Kate Blackwell works voluntarily for Samaritan's Purse, a Christian charity which runs projects to help meet critical needs of victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster.

Kate runs a weekly drop-in session at the Wells Methodist Chapel in North Anston where local people come along to fill shoe boxes which are sent to children in Europe and Africa at Christmas.

"I'm gobsmacked," said Kate, of Town Wells Court, North Anston. "I don't expect recognition. I just do this for the children. I'm
really pleased though."

"I've been to Bosnia when the boxes were being distributed and seen the children receive their presents. That drives me on because I have seen how grateful they are and how little they have."

Shoe Box 'drop-in' sessions happen every Tuesday morning at the church and have been running for about three years.

"I have been working for the cause for nine years now. I was asked to run it in Dinnington and it has just got bigger and bigger over the years. We work through the year to collect things to send over to the children," added Kate.

"We are very lucky here. I have five grandchildren and another on the way and they were lucky enough to be born in this country with everything that we have. I think it's good for people to be involved with this project."

Audrey Fenton-Smith, who attends the drop-in sessions, nominated Kate.
"Kate has really encouraged a sense of charity here," said Audrey, of Arundel Drive, Carlton.

"It's something that a lot of women and men really enjoy and it's a really nice way of bringing people together."

"It has helped with a big social need in this area. It's exciting when we see the things we have made going off to the children too."

Samaritan's Purse has sent a total of 1.3 million boxes to Eastern Europe, the Former Soviet Union and Africa to date.