Retirees fill gift boxes for Eastern European children

Maureen Summerhayes said she was sure the children who receive the gift boxes will "love them"

Residents of a retirement complex have been filling more than 200 shoeboxes with Christmas gifts to send to children in eastern Europe.

The boxes are going from Stoke Gifford retirement village, on the outskirts of Bristol, to Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia or Romania in time for the festive season.

Last year the village packed 145 boxes and this they hope to send 250 with the Shoebox Appeal, run by the charity Teams4u.

They included care items like toothbrushes and soap along with sweets, toys and a homemade teddy bear in each, made by the Stoke Gifford ‘Knit and Natter’ group.

Lell Ashley said she was "moved to take part" with the project

Viv Warren, organiser of the present packing scheme at Stoke Gifford, said: “Some people have got really involved and every time they go out they buy a few things.

“Then some people fill half a box then give me some money and say 'can you finish it off for me, [as] we can’t get out'.”

Lell Ashley has lived in the village for 17 months and says she was "moved to take part".

“We see all the problems on the news these days about children. It brings tears to your eye…

“I hope these [gift boxes] bring a smile to their face.”

Jennie Rogers has knitted 57 teddies to be sent to children in eastern Europe

Jennie Rogers said every time she has had a free moment over the last year, she knitted a teddy and made 57 altogether.

Great grandmother Maureen Summerhayes said she was sure the children who received the gift boxes would "love them".

Residents also donated money and held a raffle to help cover delivery costs.

Visiting mothers and toddlers from the inter-generational meet ups held once a week have also been involved in filling boxes.

“It has been a total village project”, a charity spokesperson said.