A thousand children could have a happier Christmas this year thanks to a remarkable memorial to a remarkable woman. Sharon Griffiths reports

TEN years ago a friend asked Sylvia Kelly if she would fill a shoe box with fun and useful items to send to a child in need. The next year, when the friend was unable to continue with the scheme, Sylvia decided to do it herself and collected 33 shoe boxes.

After that she never stopped. By last year, such was her enthusiasm and organisation that, with the huge support of the people of Ferryhill, she sent 866 shoeboxes to the charity Samaritan's Purse to give to deprived children.

Sadly, Sylvia died earlier this year at the age of 65 from a very rare cancer, but her husband Bob is determined that her good work will not die with her. So this Christmas he is aiming to send at least 1,000 shoe boxes.

"When we did so many last year, we said that this year the target had to be a thousand.

When Sylvia died, I couldn't turn my back on it, so this year I'm calling it the Sylvia Kelly Memorial Christmas Box Appeal and I'm determined to make it the biggest ever in her memory," says Bob at his home in Rushyford.

Although Sylvia was very active in Ferryhill Methodist Church and helped a number of charities, it was when she started doing the shoe boxes that she really came into her own. It just took off.

"It was as if she was born to do it, encouraging, organising and motivating people. She was quite quiet and unassuming and didn't like to draw attention to herself, but she did a brilliant job.

Even though I helped her, I didn't realise quite how much there was to do until she wasn't there to do it."

The charity has quite strict guidelines about what to pack in the boxes and over the years, as well as donating individual packed boxes, many people have given the shoe box appeal money, soft toys or writing materials.

"Then we have sorted them all out, seen what we had and what we needed, used the money to buy the extra things we needed, covered the boxes and packed them," says Bob. "At first we used to do it at our kitchen table until we couldn't move and just ran out of space."

The culmination of the year now is always three evenings in November when the group of 20 or 30 volunteers gather in the church to do the packing.

"It also brings people in from outside the church who want to help. There's a great atmosphere. It's like a production line, different items laid out in different sections and people with boxes going along picking things out, or covering the boxes. Everyone works together so enthusiastically and there are constant knocks on the door and comings and goings as people turn up with more boxes or gifts.

"The following Sunday we have a service of dedication, with all the boxes piled up in church and as soon as the service is finished a man comes from Consett with a wagon to collect them all.

Then we all have to set to and get them all loaded up and on their way."

Although this is the busiest time of the year, the work goes on constantly.

"People work all year round. For instance, there are four ladies in Fir Tree and Tow Law, one of whom is in her 90s, who knit soft toys all year round for us.

I take them up wool and bring back toys.

They are wonderful. Our garage is stocked full of items that we've been given all year.

"We work closely with schools and St Aidan's church as well as our own, but so many people are involved. I couldn't give it up. It meant so much to Sylvia and was such a huge part of her life. Even as she was dying in Bishop Auckland Hospital she was still knitting scarves to go in the shoe boxes."

Since Bob announced his 1,000 box target, he has been overwhelmed with help and money.

"I go to the supermarket and people are pushing fivers at me for the boxes.

Everywhere I go, people are remembering Sylvia and wanting to do this in her memory. It's very emotional.

"What she was doing was tapping into people's goodness, just finding the goodness in people. That's why I have to carry it on. It's a joy to do."

HOW YOU CAN HELP The team will be packing shoe boxes in Ferryhill Methodist Church on Monday, November 12, Tuesday,13 and Wednesday 14 from 7-9pm and would welcome any contributions. Or contact Bob Kelly on 01388-720253.

A message of hope at Christmas

DURING Operation Christmas Child, the charity Samaritan's Purse last year delivered over a million shoe boxes to children at Christmas. 100,000 of them came from the North-East. "It is a message of hope," says regional manager Steve Whaley. "It's a gift directly from one person to another, which makes it very special. It's a tangible way of making a difference."

The boxes go to children in hospitals, orphanages, refugee camps and homeless centres in Eastern Europe and Africa. For most of the children it is the only present they have ever received.

Since it began, the charity has delivered more than 55 million shoeboxes worldwide. From long experience and because of different regulations the charity asks that each box contains something from the following groups TOYS: Something to love or play with - bear, ball, puppet, yo yo, building blocks.

EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES: Something to do - Felt pens, pencils, sharpeners, notebooks HYGIENE SUPPLIES: Something to Use - toothbrush, paste, soap, comb OTHER: Something to eat or wear - sweets, gloves, sunglasses, scarf, bangles. They also ask for a £2 donation with each box to cover the cost of getting it there.

Other places collecting shoe boxes this year include Polar Ford in Thirsk, and North Eastern Tyre and Exhaust Services in Brotton, Middlesbrough and at Silverlink.

The charity is always looking for more volunteers regionally to help with collecting the shoe boxes from the local centres, checking them in warehouses and then loading them on the trucks on to their final destinations. Regional centres are at Stockton, Sunderland, Consett and Newcastle. For details telephone the charity's regional manager Steve Whaley on 0191-238 2081.

www.samaritanspurse.co.uk.