College students give festive gifts to kids in need

The college’s annual shoebox appeal has been another huge success with students from the Entry into Work Programme, based in the Cumbernauld campus, getting involved in the cause.

The gifts, which are covered in festive wrapping paper and filled with toys, stationery, gloves, scarves and toiletries, were collected by Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child project – a charity which will hand the boxes out to children on Christmas Day. This is the fourth year that the college has collected Christmas donations, and in that time almost 700 boxes have been sent to children in Belarus, Serbia and Ukraine.

Beatrice Soutar, events lecturer at New College Lanarkshire, said: “Our shoebox appeal is a campaign that all the students look forward to taking part in. It’s hard to imagine waking up to no presents on Christmas Day, that’s why donations from the college and the local community are so important. We are thrilled that we are able to send over 70 gifts this year and we would like to thank everyone for their geneoristy.”

A number of businesses have donated items and residents from Hillcrest Court, Sheltered Housing complex, in Cumbernauld, have also knitted hats, scarves and gloves. Elizabeth Fox, scheme manager at Hillcrest Court, said: “The tenants at Hillcrest Court feel very privileged to be involved with knitting items for such a great cause as the Shoebox Appeal for the Samaritan’s Purse. It has been an opportunity for the tenants to work alongside the students.’’