Youngsters share festive cheer

CHILDREN at Oban’s 1st Steps Day Nursery are making an ‘ overwhelming’ donation to the needy this Christmas.

For 50 years the UK charity Blythswood Care has provided practical help for those in need across Europe, Africa and Asia.

Every year it makes a Christmas shoebox appeal, asking people to donate shoeboxes packed with essen- tial items such as toothbrushes, soap, screwdrivers, sewing kits, kitchen utensils, stationery and socks, and small luxuries like toys, sweets and make-up to distribute to children and adults in need.

This is the third year the nursery children have taken home giftwrapped shoeboxes for their families to pack with presents and the response has been ‘overwhelming’, said nursery manager Fiona Moloney, with more than 40 boxes ready for delivery. ‘I was very surprised,’ she said. ‘I had one parent who did three boxes because it breaks her heart to see families without.’

Shauna MacKenzie, the nursery’s cook and organiser of the Christmas appeal, said: ‘It teaches the children about people who are less well off. They put their own toys in.’

15_T46_Christmas box appeal_ 01 Children and staff of Oban’s 1st Steps Day Nursery filled more than 40 shoeboxes with essential and luxury items to send to people in need this Christmas, all gathered in the nursery’s new extension.