Merald Davey is a Senior Care Giver at Presbyterian Support Central’s Longview Home in Tawa. A member of the Centre Church on the Kapiti Coast, Merald was keen to support ‘Operation Christmas Child’, a unique annual project of Samaritan’s Purse.
Shoe boxes packed with presents are distributed to children all over the world bringing smiles and laughter to many who rarely ever receive gifts of any sort. The project asks people to put together boxes for Girls and Boys within 2-4, 5-9 and 10-14 age groups. Gifts include teddy bears for something to love, felts and colouring books to write and draw with and the all important lollies for a treat to eat.
Merald mentioned to a colleague at Longview Home that she was putting a box together and without any prompting at all over 40 boxes were packed by staff and friends at the Home.
“For me Christmas has become very commercial and the real spirit of Christmas seems to have got lost”, said Care Manager Wendy Pallett.
“I discussed the project with my family and we decided to make up seven boxes instead of giving each other gifts this year”, she said.
The 40 boxes from Longview Home are destined for Fiji, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. “As our 40 boxes wing their way to the Pacific Islands we hope that they will bring just a little bit of Christmas cheer to the children who benefit”, Merald said.
