FIFTEEN residents at Your Housing Group’s Beechmere Extra Care development in Crewe have been filling shoeboxes with gifts for disadvantaged children, many living in poverty in third world countries.

This was part of Operation Christmas Child, a charity that sends shoeboxes filled with gifts and essential items to underprivileged children in more than 130 countries.

A total of 24 hand-wrapped boxes were stuffed with toys including cuddly animals and dolls, along with much needed hygiene items such as toothbrushes, soap and hairbrushes. The boxes also contained school supplies and stationery, hats, gloves and scarves, and sweets.

The elderly residents, some in their 80s, paid the £3 donation per box themselves to cover the cost of delivery.

To add a personal touch, they also included a photograph of themselves and a special letter for the child that receives each box. Some residents who were not able to complete a box made a cash donation to the charity.

Glenyis Jones, 77, who has lived at Beechmere for nearly three years, took the initiative to suggest it to the scheme manager. Another Your Housing Group scheme, Hazelmere, in nearby Winsford, also got involved, with more than 50 boxes sent in total between the two schemes.

Beechmere resident Glenyis Jones said: “Operation Christmas Child is a project that I feel passionate about - I have been involved in this project and making shoeboxes for the last 10 years. I am really happy with the result that the residents of Beechmere achieved, although I’m not surprised as they are a very generous bunch of residents. We’re hoping to do the same project next year so we can continue bringing a bit of joy to the children!”

Helen Wright, Your Housing Group’s scheme manager at Beechmere, said: “It was great to see the residents coming together to help disadvantaged children. They all enjoyed filling the shoeboxes, knowing they could make a huge difference. We hope that it brings some joy to the children opening the boxes on Christmas day.”

The empty shoeboxes were donated by Wynsors World of Shoes, in Crewe.