International relief and development organisation Samaritan’s Purse has appointed CLM Rental to help fulfil this year’s Operation Christmas Child campaign, which aims to send one million shoeboxes from the UK full of gifts to children in undeveloped countries.

Every year, Samaritan’s Purse distributes around 10 million shoeboxes globally to under-privileged children in various parts of the world, including Eastern Europe, Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East.

Last year, some 850,000 of these came from the UK. This year, the UK target is one million with a total of 85 export centres across the country holding the gifts, which are donated by members of the public, often through local church campaigns, before they are shipped around the world.

The gifts, which must all fit in the shoebox-sized containers, typically comprise  toys, hygiene items and school supplies.

Their collection and delivery from some 3,000 drop-off sites around the UK requires a fleet of several hundred vans working around the clock for a thre- month period from October to early January, backed by an enormous logistical operation.

Samaritan’s Purse has now appointed CLM Rental to provide the transport for the 2015 Operation Christmas Child campaign, with up to 200 vans, typically LWB Ford Transits, being required across the country.

Simon Cotton, general manager at CLM, said: “We are delighted to be working with Samaritan’s Purse to fulfil this year’s Operation Christmas Child campaign"

CLM will also be adding its own support to the 2015 Operation Christmas Child campaign and is encouraging staff to fill at least 50 shoe boxes with appropriate gifts to be sent to underprivileged children.

The pre-printed shoeboxes have already been ordered and once filled with gifts, will be taken to the nearest collection point to the CLM offices in Newport Pagnell.

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