Press Office
29th October 2012 For Immediate Release
Leeds Building Society is again supporting the Samaritan’s Purse Operations Christmas Child appeal. This is the sixth year in succession the Society has taken part in this national initiative, and all 65 of the mutual’s UK branches will be collecting shoeboxes from members of the public from this Thursday, 1st November, until 18th November 2012.
Operation Christmas Child is the world’s largest children’s Christmas project, and has been running since 1990. Over the past 22 years, Samaritan’s Purse (through Operation Christmas Child) has delivered 94 million shoeboxes to children in over 100 countries. In 2011, over 1.1 million shoeboxes were sent from the UK to disadvantaged children in countries around the world. Samaritan’s Purse is hoping to deliver their 100 millionth gift-filled shoebox during this year’s Operation Christmas Child campaign.
Simon Barrington, Samaritan’s Purse UK’s Executive Director said, “We are delighted that all Leeds Building Society branches will again be acting as ‘Drop off Points.’ Giving a shoebox gift is very simple. All people need to do is find an empty shoebox, decide if it’s for a boy or a girl, and fill the box with simple items such as toys, educational supplies and hygiene items. Once they have made the £2.50 donation and dropped their shoebox off at their nearest Leeds Building Society branch, our regional volunteers will ensure the shoeboxes get to where they need to go.
“Although we are pushing hard this year to deliver the 100 millionth gift-filled shoebox, for me it’s always about the individual children; every box counts and has the potential to make a massive difference in children’s lives.”
Paul Kaye, Leeds Building Society’s General Manager – Sales said, “We think Operation Christmas Child is a brilliant project that we recommend others to be part of. The shoe boxes not only assist the children that receive them, but also help our colleagues and members feel part of something bigger that is helping others.
“I am delighted that our 65 strong national branch network is helping Samaritan’s Purse in their aim to reach their 100 millionth child this Christmas.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
Please see below photos taken at Leeds Building Society branches during last year’s appeal.
To take part, all people need to do is wrap a medium sized show box in Christmas paper.
Gifts that can be included are: (All gifts should be new, please include items from each category)
Things that MUST NOT be put in the box are:
Leeds Building Society has assets of £10bn (as at 30 June 2012) and 67 branches throughout the UK, Gibraltar and Ireland. The Society has operated from the centre of Leeds since 1886.
Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts are collected in the UK, United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Finland, Germany, New Zealand and Spain. Samaritan’s Purse, through its national partners, will hand-deliver each of the millions of shoebox gifts to children in more than 100 countries on six continents.
To find out more about Samaritan’s Purse in the UK, visit www.samaritans-purse.org.uk.
Leeds Building Society is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and our registration number is 164992. The Society's Head Office address is 105 Albion Street, Leeds LS1 5AS. The Society's permitted business is arranging and advising on Mortgages and General Insurance. You can check this by visiting the FSA website at www.fsa.gov.uk or by contacting the FSA on 0845 606 1234.
