BIG-hearted supporters of a Christmas appeal have donated thousands of shoeboxes filled with gifts for children overseas.
Gift boxes are still pouring into Tickton charity Real Aid – days after the appeal closed.
Charity leaders are overwhelmed by the response to the annual appeal, which will bring joy to thousands of children living in poverty in west Africa and eastern Europe.
Real Aid chief executive Barbara Raine said: "We have got thousands of shoeboxes, we haven't had chance to count them.
"We didn't really expect such a huge response because times are really, really hard.
"The recession is starting to bite into people's pockets so we are unbelievably glad for anything people are able to give.
"We are overwhelmed by the generosity of people.
"They just turn up no matter what with their donations."
Schools, colleges, churches, youth groups, local organisations and many individuals have backed the charity's appeal.
Tough financial times meant last year's record-breaking mountain of more than 6,000 shoeboxes would be a hard act to follow but the charity has been astonished by the response.
Mrs Raine said: "I don't think we will have quite as many shoeboxes as last year but we don't like to think of it as a competition.
"We will have more than enough shoeboxes to send to Sierra Leone and Moldova.
"The shoebox appeal has become part of Christmas, people enjoy filling the shoeboxes with gifts even if they haven't got much themselves.
"People have dug deep. I think people understand the situation a bit more because times are hard here and they know it will go to a child who has nothing."
Mrs Raine has first-hand experience of delivering shoeboxes to children in Sierra Leone, west Africa.
She said: "It's so unbelievably humbling to see the faces of children in Africa when they are handed these shoeboxes.
"These children have no possessions, they are so happy to receive simple things like a skipping rope, crayons and a colouring book.
"They don't ask for a lot of expensive stuff, they just want something simple."
Volunteers at Real Aid are now packing all the shoeboxes to be shipped out to Africa and Moldova.
Mrs Raine said: "The appeal has closed now but we always take shoeboxes from people if they are a bit late, so they should not worry, we will still take them and make sure they get there."
