AROUND 20,000 shoeboxes filled with Christmas presents for disadvantaged children have been sent to multiple countries.

The Wessex Rotary Club Shoebox Scheme has been operating for more than 20 years and sees thousands of presents delivered to children in time for Christmas.

The Rotary Club is a worldwide voluntary organisation of people who are dedicated to ‘service above self’ and helping others throughout the world.

(Image: Bournemouth Echo)

Each box is filled with treats for children including hats, gloves, skipping rope, hair accessories and stationery as well as essentials such as toothpaste, flannels and a wide toothed comb.

The shoeboxes have been sent to support children in Romania, Montenegro, Moldova and war-stricken Ukraine.

One of the organisers, Chris Hardiman, has been with the Sturminster Newton Rotary Club since 2008.

He said: “The clubs have been collecting the boxes from all the schools and church groups over Hampshire, Dorset, Channel Islands and the Isle of Wight.

“They check them personally at the Rotary Club so everyone has checked to make sure it's got the right contents inside and is meeting the international requirements.

(Image: Wessex Rotary Club)

“If sending to Ukraine, we must be careful with the route of transport. We travel in a convoy through Poland.

“When all collected for this year’s shipment, we transport out by road to host Rotary Clubs in each country who then deliver out to disadvantaged and displaced children boys and girls age groups from 1 to 3, 4 to 7, 8 to 12 and 13 to 15yrs.

“All boxes are then dispersed to the disadvantaged children to bring them some joy.

“We aim to send over 20,000 boxes, that’s our target.”

The Rotary Club is also very fortunate for Silver Crane which is supplying its industrial estate in Windham Road for free.

Silver Crane has supplied the Wessex Rotary Club for three years.

In December 2023, the Wessex Rotary Club collected, sorted and sent 18,775 shoeboxes of gifts to children.

Last year, 18,000 boxes were also sent from their warehouse in Christchurch, spreading joy among children, including refugees from Ukraine living in Poland.

Those wanting to get involved in the shoebox scheme should contact the Wessex Rotary Club via its website.