THE boys and girls at Little Fishes Nursery School in Rowledge have been busy filling shoeboxes with Christmas gifts to send to children around the world as part of Operation Christmas Child.

“This must be the 20th year we have taken part,” said nursery school manager Judith Parish.

“It’s such a worthy cause and a great way for the children to learn about the world and to think of others. Thank you to all the parents for the donations.”

Run by Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child is the world’s largest children’s Christmas project and has been sending gift-filled shoeboxes around the world since 1990, bringing joy into the lives of more than 80 million underprivileged children.

The shoeboxes full of gifts and goodies, will be sent to disadvantaged children across Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.