VOLUNTEERS and well-wishers have waved off one of the final shipments to leave Evesham for the Operation Christmas Child shoebox appeal.

Hundreds of people gathered at a warehouse off Davies Road for a special service on Sunday.

As well as singing carols with music from Droitwich Salvation Army Band, the group watched as a lorry carrying nearly 11,000 boxes left for poverty-stricken children in Bosnia.

More than 37,000 shoeboxes filled with goodies by kind-hearted donors in Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire have been checked and packed by an army of volunteers at the warehouse over the past few weeks.

Their efforts have seen more than 6,000 boxes go to Kyrgyzstan, nearly 7,000 to Swaziland and 10,000 to Serbia.

Speaking at the service, area co-ordinator Bob James said the shoeboxes made a world of difference to the children who received them. “It’s wonderful what’s happened to these little boxes over the years,” he said.

“Each shoebox makes a huge difference to the child who gets it and they never forget it.”

Mr James thanked volunteers and donors for their generosity.

Rev Ralph Bolland later blessed the parcels and volunteers, including Jenny Cotton of Churchdown, who will be taking a contribution from Prime Minister David Cameron to a child in Belarus next week. She said: “It’s my first trip and I’m very excited. It’ll be lovely to see what difference the boxes make from a personal view.”

The Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Appeal has helped more than 80 million shoeboxes get to children around the world since its foundation. It celebrates its 20th anniversary on Sunday.