MEMBERS of a tea and chat group have donated items for children in need.

Volunteers at Samaritan’s Purse will pack the items into shoeboxes as part of their Operation Christmas Child project.

Boxes filled with donations by the King’s Stanley Tea and Chatter group were presented to June Dolphin, volunteer at the Samaritan’s Purse, at the Kings Head pub on Wednesday.

Around 20 shoeboxes with items including toys, stationery, clothing and toiletries were donated which will go to the Samaritan’s Purse’s new warehouse in Gloucester before being sent out to countries such as Bosnia, Macedonia and Zambia for children in need.

June Dolphin, who has been with the Samaritan’s Purse for 17 years, said: “I have personally witnessed the great love and joy that each child feels when being given a shoebox, the wonderful excitement when lifting the lid and the smiles.

“It was wonderful to see so many donations from the Tea and Chatter group, it is as though Christmas has come early.”

Operation Christmas Child was launched in 1990 and has delivered more than 120 million boxes worldwide.

The Tea and Chatter group meets on the first and third Wednesday of every month at the Kings Head pub in King’s Stanley, supporting different charities.

If you would like to get involved with Operation Christmas Child, call Stroud area contact June Dolphin on 01452 770478.