EVEN though Christmas a while off yet, a housebuilder is planning ahead to help spread the Christmas spirit to children around the world.

Barratt Homes is supporting the Operation Christmas Child initiative and is offering its show home at Chapel Gate, in Kingsclere Road, as a place for people to drop off festive shoeboxes between November 1 and 18.

Last year, drive organisers Samaritan’s Purse sent 900,000 shoeboxes around the world to make Christmas a bit more special for children.

Nick Cole, director of Operation Christmas Child UK, shared his hope for people getting involved this year. He said: “Operation Christmas Child is excited to be able to share the true meaning of Christmas with thousands of children around the world every year, thanks to our generous supporters. We hope that schools, companies and individuals across the UK will contribute to a record collection for 2017.”

Anyone who would like to drop off a shoebox at Chapel Gate will need to get an empty medium sized shoebox and wrap the lid and box separately in festive wrapping paper.

They need to select an age category of two to four, five to nine or 10 to 14 and attach a label to the shoebox top. Then, fill the box with suitable gifts, and make an online payment to cover the transportation costs of the box. Following that, print off a barcode and place it in the shoebox.

For further details, visit www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk.