Christmas is a time for giving and the people of South Lakeland are once again being urged to think of those children for whom Christmas Day is merely another day of poverty and hardship.

Operation Christmas Child is one of Britain's biggest annual charity projects for children, and last year it was responsible for delivering more than 1.3 million shoeboxes full of gifts from the UK to some of the poorest parts of Eastern Europe.

Last year a total of 7,250 boxes were donated from communities in South Lakeland and this year local Operation Christmas Child organisers, John Rule and Doreen Metcalf, hope to collect even more.

"Many people in the Lake District did a fantastic job contributing last year, and our aim is to better this, if we possibly can," said Mrs Metcalf.

"Sadly, there are still large numbers of children in many countries where war, poverty and natural disasters have left them with nothing. We deal with families living in awful conditions - in old railway trucks, buildings partly destroyed by shellfire and even with street kids who live in sewers.

"The tremendous impact that a shoebox containing some simple gifts has upon a child with nothing cannot be over emphasised. The gift box brings toys and clothes to brighten difficult lives and, most importantly, hope and love from the person packing the box here in Britain."

All you need to do is pick up a leaflet from one of the participating outlets listed below, and follow the instructions on how to pack and label your shoebox.

Then take it to one of the drop-off points and it will be collected and delivered to deprived and disadvantaged youngsters in time for Christmas Day.

The cut-off point for this year's boxes is November 25.

Anyone who wants to help can visit the Operation Christmas Child website on www.samaritanspurse.uk.com or contact the helpline on 0870-011-2002 and they will receive a leaflet providing guidelines on what to put in the shoebox, how to pack it and where to send it for collection.

The charity does, however, require a donation of £2 to cover the costs of transporting the parcel to its destination.

Drop off points in the area include Famous Footwear, Sandes Avenue, Kendal; K Village, Kendal; Ottakars Bookstore, Westmorland Shopping Centre, Kendal; Kirkby Stephen Emporium and Post Office; The Wordsworth Hotel, Grasmere; Blacks Outdoor Leisure, Ambleside; Stephens Greengrocers, Appleby; Stephens Flower Basket, Appleby; Cumbria Co-op, The Sands, Appleby; Mountain Goat Tours, Victoria Street, Windermere; Co-op Village Store, Bowness; Co-op, Shap; Brough Post Office; Crosthwaite Post Office.

What to send: What to send Small toys: teddies, cuddly animals, a toy car, truck, balls.

Small games: puzzle, jigsaws Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, flannel.

Stationery: notepad, pencils, pens, crayons, felt pens.

Books: colouring book, picture books.

Clothes: hat, cap, gloves, scarf.

For girls: jewellery, clip earrings, make-up, hair accessories.

Greetings card or a photo of yourself.

Sweets (must be well within sell-by date).

What to leave out No chocolate.

No toy guns, knives, soldiers or war-related items.

No marbles or toys which depend on batteries.

No aerosols, including deodorants.

No liquid containers, eg bubble bath or shampoo.

No food (except sweets).

No clothes (except scarf, hat etc).

No books with words.

No medicines.