A business in Pool has launched a Christmas shoebox appeal to support families and older people in Eastern Europe this Christmas.

It is the second year that TRAC Services, a pharmaceutical regulations firm based at the Pool Innovation Centre, has taken part in the scheme, which distributes boxes of gifts, toiletries, sweets, clothes and other goodies to people in small towns and villages across Albania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania.

Kirsty Cotton from TRAC, said: “Last year we collected 15 shoeboxes full of presents that were sent to Romania and Belarus to give children a Christmas to remember.

“This year we want all the businesses at the Pool Innovation Centre to get involved with the scheme and help us send even more shoeboxes to families and elderly people.

“There are two ways businesses can get involved.

“Firstly, we are placing boxes in each kitchen area at PIC where people can drop off individual items.

“And secondly, people can complete their own shoebox and drop it in to us so we can take it to the distribution centre.”

The project is organised by the charity, Link to Hope, which aims to combat poverty and give humanitarian aid and has special concern for the most disadvantaged.

Richard Scutt, Pool Innovation Centre’s manager, said: “This is a brilliant project and I’m going to encourage all our clients here at PIC.

“We’ve got a great community of successful businesses here and it will be lovely to do something to help people at Christmas who are disadvantaged.”

The deadline for completing the shoeboxes is Wednesday, October 29.

For more information please contact Kirsty Cotton at TRAC Services on 01209 612650 or email kcotton@tracservices.co.uk.