Times are tight, but you can still help those who have less – even on a shoestring – by filling a shoe box this Christmas.
There are nearly 30,000 families living in Kilkenny, so the county can really make a difference if every family donated one shoebox. Filling a shoebox helps children to learn that expensive, packaged toys aren’t the only good gifts.
Simple things that we take for granted, put together in interesting ways, can often lead to more memorable, long-lasting fun. It’s important to remember that many of the recipient families live on less than €1 a week and the Team Hope Christmas Shoebox will be the only gift they get this Christmas.
Here are some examples of really simple gifts that will make a real difference to the lives of the recipients:
Writing materials, such as colored pencils, crayons, sharpener, colouring notebook, or a writing pad; personal hygiene items like toothpaste, a toothbrush, soap, plasters, a brush, comb or hair bands; anything they can wear– hats, gloves, socks, scarves and so on; or a little cuddly toy such as a teddy bear, a doll, games or small musical instruments.
Another good idea is to include a picture of you or your family, which personalizes the gift. This enables the child to put a face to the person who sent the precious shoebox.
There are a few simple guidelines to abide by when filling your Team Hope Christmas Shoebox. It’s important to specify if the box is for a boy or a girl and the age group it is appropriate for (e.g. 2-4 years, 5-9 years or 10-14 years ).
Also, please include €3 in order to cover the cost of transportation. The Team Hope Christmas shoeboxes from Ireland are delivered to countries from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union such as Romania, Moldova, Eastern Croatia and the Ukraine. In Africa, children receive boxes in Burundi, Rwanda, Congo, Lesotho and Swaziland.
There are lots of helpful tips and ideas for filling your Christmas Shoebox on the Team Hope website, as well as a list of the drop-off points for County Kilkenny on www.teamhope.ie If you have any questions or need assistance, you can contact Team Hope directly on 01-2940222.
