OPERATION Christmas Child has sent a big 'thank you' to the people of Launceston, Bude and surrounding areas who have responded superb­ly to their annual appeal to donate gift-filled shoeboxes for children facing challenging lives in a host of countries.

Over 11,600 Christ­mas shoeboxes full of presents have been handed in by members of the public, schools, companies, churches and organisations from communities across the county, including Launceston and Bude.

"It has been a great response, particularly at a time when people are finding resources stretched due to the credit crunch," says Roger Fenton, Regional Manager for Operation Christmas Child. "Our volunteers collected the shoeboxes from throughout Cornwall and took them to the warehouses in Camborne, Helston, Falmouth, Penzance and Wadebridge where we checked, packed and loaded them on to lorries for transportation to their destinations. This year the Cornwall shoeboxes are going to children in Romania.

"On arrival they are distributed by local organisations, charities and churches to children aged between 3 and 14, many of whom are in orphanages, street shelters, hospitals, displaced persons camps or whose families are facing hardship. It is clear from the items we see in the shoeboxes and from little personal messages sometimes included, that many people take great care in choosing what to send. Their kindness shines through."

Ian Macleod, Head of Operations and Logistics added: "This year we set a total UK target of 1.25 million shoeboxes which, with the economic downturn biting, we thought might be difficult to reach. We are handling the last lorry loads right now and, while we are still counting the final figures, I believe we will get at least 1.2 million, a terrific level of contribution from the public. Every shoebox makes a real difference to a child, often more than the donor can imagine, so I want to thank every single person in Cornwall who packed an Operation Christmas Child shoebox."