By KATELYN PINAL
A BEACONHILLS College student is giving children in need a merry Christmas.
Year 12 student, and Pakenham campus vice-captain, Natalie Templar is encouraging people to donate a shoebox full of gifts to children in developing countries.
Natalie has been involved with the Operation Christmas Child drive, run by the international charity Samaritan’s Purse, for the past eight years.
In that time, she has gathered around 890 shoeboxes, $3000 in donations and a bag full of hand-made teddy bears.
The boxes are filled with toys, clothing and stationary for children in developing countries such as Cambodia, Thailand and Papua New Guinea.
Natalie said she started the event at her school to encourage students and staff to help out disadvantaged children in a fun way.
“I am involved in Operation Christmas Child because of the fulfilment of not only packing shoeboxes for children, but ensuring that hundreds of children get the opportunity to receive a Christmas present..” she said.
As it is her last year at school, this also means it is her last year overseeing the charity drive but she plans to pass the baton to her younger brother next year.
