Residents support charity shoebox appeal

Kind-hearted residents at Merlin’s sheltered housing schemes have donated bundles of presents for a Christmas shoebox appeal.

Residents from Merlin’s eight sheltered schemes in the Filton area banded together to donate presents for Blythswood Care’s annual shoebox appeal. Every Christmas the charity sends more than 100,000 shoeboxes to impoverished children and adults in Eastern Europe, India and Pakistan. And this year, seven of the boxes will be from Merlin residents.

Support co-ordinator Jennie Linham said: “It was a wonderful response from residents. Lots of them donated items and then nine residents spent a morning packing up the presents and wrapping the boxes. Residents also donated lots of other items which we couldn’t fit in the boxes which we’ve also sent off to the charity.

“This is a really worthwhile cause which residents were delighted to support. Hopefully their generosity will make someone smile this Christmas.”