Lancaster and Morecambe solicitors helping to brighten Christmas for deprived children

The main campaign dates are between November 1 and 12 but Baines Bagguley Penhale are now accepting filled shoe boxes at either of their offices until November 9, but ideally boxes should be received by November 9 so that they can be transferred to the central collecting point for sorting. Their offices are at 15 Northumberland Street, Morecambe, and 22 Sun Street in Lancaster and are open Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

Boxes of Hope is a registered charity helping deprived communities in Romania by sending gift filled shoeboxes to children at Christmas.

Any surplus funds from the appeal go to help support educational projects.

Everyone involved with Boxes of Hope are volunteers and those who visit Romania to distribute the boxes fund the trip themselves.

If you would like to make up a shoe box leaflets containing gift ideas and donation forms can be obtained from various drop off points including the offices of Baines Bagguley Penhale.

A donation of £2 per box should be included to cover transport costs.

Gift wrap your show box and lid (separately). Gifts should be suitable for boys or girls between three and 14 years.

Gifts should be in good clean condition or new. Gift ideas include toiletries, stationery, crayons, colouring books toys, hats, gloves, scarf or socks, sweets (BBE of at least March next year).

Please do not include food (other than sweets or chocolate), medicines, aerosols, liquids, glass, fragile or sharp items, war-related toys, story books, play dough, plasticine or loom bands.

If you are not able to donate a shoe box but still want to contribute then why not get busy knitting some hats and mitts or you can donate other suitable items to be made up into boxes.

Why not get your children to have a clear out and donate unwanted items to make room for what Santa will be bringing them on Christmas morning.

You can find more information about Boxes of Hope at www.boxesofhopecumbria.co.uk.