“It’s very rewarding seeing the lorries loaded up with shoeboxes, on their way to children in need; and knowing that we played a part in that.”

Relaxation time for Roy and Maggs takes place in a peaceful river setting.

Where Roy and Maggs are most at home is on their beautiful narrow boat, enjoying the relaxing sounds of nature on a peaceful tree-lined river. During the months of November into December though, you’ll more often find them in the Operation Christmas Child processing centre for Wales, surrounded by a hive of festive activity. Here they oversee the regular collections of brightly wrapped shoeboxes and a team of short-term volunteers who are checking each one, before cartoning and loading them on to lorries for dispatch towards children around the world.

“Being a logistics coordinator for Operation Christmas Child is a very rewarding experience,” Maggs explains. “When we heard about Operation Christmas Child and how it reaches children around the world, we knew we wanted to be part of it.”

Their role includes supporting short-term volunteers and coordinating shoebox collections from churches, or local processing centres in their area.

Unloading a delivery of shoeboxes at the warehouse. Volunteers are the lifeblood of Operation Christmas Child.

“We also welcome and host shoebox contributors at local collection sites. Collection and processing centre volunteers serve as the face of Operation Christmas Child as shoebox donations come through the doors on their way to the waiting arms of children around the world, and we believe it’s important to give everyone a warm welcome, so they know they are appreciated,” says Maggs.

Roy adds: “My favourite part is working with people and having the opportunity to encourage them. It’s very rewarding seeing the lorries loaded up with shoeboxes, on their way to children in need; and knowing that we played a part in that.”

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Logistics volunteer for Operation Christmas Child, get in touch using the button below.