Legal staff play Santa clause for youngsters

Nov 5 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

LEGAL staff lived up to the old adage that Christmas is for giving when they donated more than 200 boxes crammed with gifts to an appeal.

Newcastle law firm Watson Burton more than doubled last year’s gift to the Samaritans’ Purse Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal.

Staff were asked to donate shoeboxes filled with small toys, school supplies, sweets and other gifts for needy children around the world.

Watson Burton’s Amanda Greener, Sarah Costello and Stuart Coulthard organised the collection and checked the contents to ensure they were suitable for their long journeys across the globe.

Amanda said: “Last year we managed to donate 105 boxes, so this year our aim was to double that figure.

“Everyone has been supportive of the appeal. The generosity of the staff has been exceptional and everyone at the firm has really got behind this year’s appeal.”

Senior partner Rob Langley said: “This has been a tremendous effort from our staff and we were delighted to be able to provide a donation from the firm to cover the distribution costs.

“Operation Christmas Child is one of the many good causes the firm supports and the number of boxes collected is testament to the generosity and hard work of the people here.”

Operation Christmas Child is the world’s largest children’s Christmas project. Since 1990 it has brought the joy of Christmas to more than 60 million children. Last year it sent 1.3 million boxes from the UK.