THE kind-hearted ladies of Fairplace Wives and Friends Group have embraced the festive spirit early to make sure poverty-stricken youngsters receive a present this Christmas.

The group met at Fairplace Church on Thursday, October 31 to pack shoeboxes with Christmas gifts on behalf of the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child appeal.

Since 1990, more than 100 million boys and girls in over 130 countries have received shoebox gifts thanks to Operation Christmas Child.

The group used an efficient assembly-line system to pack hundreds of boxes well into the evening. Their total is now 403, beating last year's total of 370 boxes packed.

The ladies expressed their thanks to Mole Avon and Sophia for supplying shoeboxes and handmade bags, and to everyone who donated goods or money, or helped to wrap and pack the boxes.