Ref. 27747-14PEOPLE in the Parks and Walcot areas of Swindon have dug deep to provide Christmas gifts for children in poverty around the world.
More than 70 shoeboxes filled with small presents have been collected by parishioners at St John's Church and local schoolchildren.
The vicar, the Rev Bob Burles, said other churches in the area were also collecting for Operation Christmas Child, which distributes them to children in war-torn and poverty-stricken countries.
He was also confident that St John's would manage to beat last year's figure of 100 boxes.
"Considering some of the families' circumstances in this area, people have been very generous.
"I think they are particularly sympathetic because they know what it is like to hit hard times," he said.
The original idea to join the project came from a member of the congregation and the rest had jumped on it with enthusiasm.
What had made it popular was the fact that people could club together to make up a box if they didn't have enough spare cash to fill one themselves, Rev Burles said.
This is the third year that the parish has taken part in the project.
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