SCHOOLCHILDREN,
mums, church members, businesses and households nationwide are being asked to
create gift filled shoeboxes of Christmas presents for needy children in Africa
and Eastern Europe.
Irish
charity Team Hope has launched its annual Christmas Shoebox Appeal and the
target is to surpass last year’s total of 180,000 shoeboxes that where
gratefully received by families who live on e1 a day.
This
experienced co-ordinating team, together with 50 local teams of over 1,000
volunteers nationwide, have been organising the Christmas Shoebox Appeal for 12
years.
Shoeboxes
can be dropped off at collection points around the country before November 11
for distribution to needy children.
Team
Hope will deliver the gift-filled shoeboxes right into the hands of a needy
child in Eastern Europe or Africa.
Carol
Hennessey, Christmas Shoebox Appeal manager, said they were delighted to be calling
on everyone in Ireland to join in the appeal again this year.
“However,
we are conscious that there are so many more needy children we could make
Christmas special for if we had extra shoeboxes,
? stated Ms Hennessey.
“There
are over 1.4 million households in Ireland.
“If
every house did one shoebox imagine the difference that would make to so many
children.
?
Shoeboxes
should be wrapped in Christmas paper (the lid separately) and it’s up to the
donor to choose who they’d like to receive the gift, a boy or a girl and the
age group it is suited for.
All
the information about how to pack the box, suggestions as to suitable items, a
sticker to mark the box (boy or girl, age) and an envelope for the
?¬3
(contribution towards transport) is in a leaflet which is available from the
local co-ordinator, by phoning Team Hope at 01-2940222 or via the website
www.teamhope.ie