A RESIDENTIAL home care assistant has been given a special gift in recognition of 300 goodie boxes she has sent from Barry to Afghanistan.

Staff at Orchard House presented colleague Paula Champ with a Help For Heroes engraved bracelet on Thursday, October 21, to mark the consignment of useful items sent to British troops on the front line.

65-year-old Paula began her mission by sending parcels to her then 18-year-old grandson Nathan Davies, now 21, in Iraq.

She decided, last December, that other troops may appreciate boxes of their own.

Residents, their families, and Paula’s colleagues have all chipped in to make sure each of the boxes meet their maximum 2kg fill, and Holton Road-based Fosters Footwear has stepped in to make sure boxes are in continuous supply.

Paula, of Aeron Close, said: "The letters we have received show how much the boxes are appreciated.

"One female corporal said she opened her parcel and it was so lovely to see a nailbrush, as she had lost hers. She was so pleased."

"I would like to say thank you to Nat Gibson, the owner of Orchard House, the staff, the residents and their families," added Paula.

"We put a letter in each box saying, ‘To our heroes, we are all thinking of you, keep safe, lots of love from all at Orchard House.’"

Items included in the boxes include Pot Noodles, spices, chilli sauce, cartons of juice, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shower gels, soap, roll-on deodorants, tins of sardines and pilchards, and letters. Anyone who would like to help Paula fill more boxes can donate items by calling at the Orchard House reception, behind Williams Stores, Colcot Road, Barry.