Have you ever wondered how Santa Claus manages to produce enough Christmas presents for everyone. Yes I know you’re going to say it’s his elves working day and night somewhere in the artic circle. We’ll let me tell you he has an army of helpers all over the world in undiscovered workshops all with one aim ‘to bring a little bit of joy to those less fortunate than ourselves’ not just at Christmas but throughout the year.

One such workshop has been discovered at Bethany in Chadsmoor. For many years Santa’s helpers there have been building shoeboxes for International Aid Trust to send all over the world from Sierra Leone in Africa to Albania, Moldova and Transylvania in the southern most part of Europe. Their work has already started for 2024 with the first shipment collected for delivery to International Aid Trust main distribution warehouse in Preston this week.

How many shoeboxes do you think they produce every year?

We’ll it’s staggering we’ll over 1,000 and they are more than just a box full of useful and fun gifts; it’s personal, a gift just for the person receiving it, a message of hope and love, that reflects the love of Jesus. Letting children and adults in desperate circumstances know that someone cares and they are not forgotten.

Want to help or just know more speak to Judith, Chris or Helen they’ll be really happy to tell you more and if you want rope you into being one of Santa’s secret helpers.