IT is that time of year when once again we are appealing for Christmas Shoeboxes for Eastern Europe, in particular for the poor in Moldova, a country described by the BBC as a "European country with African levels of poverty".

Local people have been incredibly supportive and generous in recent years and we sincerely hope we will see the same response in 2019.

The charity, Christian Response to Eastern Europe (cr2ee), is based in Devon and has been taking humanitarian and medical aid along with shoeboxes of Christmas gifts to the area for over 27 years.

They also run a Family Sponsorship scheme.

Each year they send around 70,000 euros to Moldova to support struggling families, run soup kitchens, provide medical aid and engage with many other projects.

In order to get the reality of Moldovan life, the trustees of cr2ee regularly visit and stay with local families to recognise the worries and needs of all whatever their faith.

The request for Christmas boxes of any size is that it is simply crammed full of NEW items.

Wrap your box in festive paper with a label saying who it is suitable for, with age and sex of a child.

Larger boxes filled with family gifts from toys, sweets, gloves, soaps, food or similar are also welcome, as are gifts for the very elderly.

If you feel you would like to be part of this year's Christmas celebration, please deliver your box to David and Janice, 4 South View, Hemyock, EX15 3SQ, before Sunday, November 3.

Any queries, phone 07773 579809. Collection may be possible.

Thank you.

JANICE BAWLER
Hemyock