Águilas Town Hall encourages residents to prepare Xmas gifts for children in need this year

Boxes must be delivered for distribution in less well-off nations by 28^th November

The new Mayor of Águilas, Cristóbal Casado, has officially launched the annual “Niño de Navidad” campaign, supporting a worthy charity through which the lives of children in undeveloped countries are improved by the small gestures of donors in Spain.

Every year millions of shoeboxes full of presents – but useful presents, such as school books and materials and items of personal hygiene, as well as toys – are distributed among children in need all over the world by the “Niño de Navidad” scheme, which is run by the NGO Samaritan’s Purse. Churches of all denominations take part as well as non-religious organizations, and in Águilas it has become a pre-Christmas tradition to donate to this worthy cause before the binge of largely needless spending occurs over the festive season itself.

Within the municipality of Águilas shoeboxes can be picked up from all of the primary schools, and once you collect one all you have to do is fill it with worthwhile Christmas goodies and deliver it before 28^th November. This year, it has been decided that boxes collected in Spain will be sent on for distribution to Equatorial Guinea, Rumania, Ukraine and north African countries.

Further information about the scheme can be found at https://operacionninodelanavidad.org/.

For more local events, news and visiting information, contact the tourist office of Águilas or go to the home page of Águilas Today.