One of Britain's biggest annual charity projects for children launches this week and Wales will be making a major contribution towards its success. Operation Christmas Child, the Christian relief project which delivered over 1.3 million gift-filled shoeboxes from the UK and Ireland to needy children in Eastern Europe last Christmas, is calling on schools, churches, organisations and individuals to build on the help they gave in 2003 and ensure the 2004 campaign brings much needed joy to underprivileged children. This year, for the first time, gift boxes will go to Mozambique and Kyrgyzstan, as well as many countries in Eastern Europe, including Bosnia, Serbia and Azerbaijan. Last year, 50,120 boxes were donated from all over Wales, with 919 boxes coming from Pembroke, Pembroke Dock, Tenby and Saundersfoot alone, and this year local organiser Marilyn Parkinson is hoping to collect even more. "South West and West Wales did a fantastic job contributing last year, generating more than 10,000 boxes and our aim is to better this, if we possibly can," states Marilyn. "Sadly, there are still large numbers of children in many countries where war, poverty and natural disasters have left them with nothing. We deal with families living in awful conditions - in old railway trucks, buildings partly destroyed by shellfire and even with street kids who live in sewers. "The tremendous impact that a shoebox containing some simple gifts has upon a child with nothing - and their family - cannot be over emphasised. "The gift box brings toys and clothes to brighten difficult lives and most importantly, hope and love from the person packing the box here in Britain. It is very much a gift from someone here direct to a child who greatly appreciates what they receive. "Any school, church, company, organisation or individual that wants to help can contact the Operation Christmas Child via our website or helpline and they will receive the simple set of instructions on what they need to do. "The leaflet provides guidelines on what to put in the shoebox, how to pack it and where to send it for collection and onward transportation. "All we ask is for a £2 contribution towards promotion, transport, processing and distribution. "At the final destination, the boxes are distributed to needy children regardless of their nationality, political background or religious beliefs. "It is a simple process, yet means so much to the children, so we really hope to collect as many shoeboxes as we can in 2004." Anyone wishing to participate in the Operation Christmas Child 2004 Appeal should log on to http://www.samaritanspurse.co.uk">www.samaritanspurse.co.uk or contact the helpline on 0870 011 2002.