Cargo ship delays won’t stop the Christmas Box team from blessing 1000 families with delightful festive cheer this season.

So volunteers with plenty of Christmas spirit are needed to help pack 1000 Christmas Box parcels for needy families on Rarotonga and the Pa Enua.

Christmas Box team leader, Tina Iro is inviting everyone to join in the annual “packing day” this afternoon at 4pm sharp, at the Celebration Church located next door to the RSA opposite the airport.

The team are also asking for donations of toilet paper, toothpaste, tooth brushes, soap, shampoo and hair conditioner to add to the collection. These items can be dropped off at the stairwell next to Cafe Jireh.

Last year the Christmas spirit was well and truly alive when volunteers packed 1000 Christmas Boxes – a record for the Cook Islands Christmas Box project, in just an hour and 30 minutes.

Christmas Box works closely with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and a select few will deliver the boxes to the recipients to ensure the privacy and integrity of the families are respected.

The Christmas Box project in the Cook Islands was first launched in 2012 when 500 boxes were delivered.

This is an annual community effort by local bank staff, businesses and individuals, the hosts of this year’s project is the Celebration on the Rock Church.