The Annual Christmas Shoebox Appeal is Back
... and it’s going online!
(From the October - December 2020 issue of VOX)
For ten years, Irish charity Team Hope has sent thousands of gift-filled Christmas shoeboxes to vulnerable children in Africa and Eastern Europe. Now faced with the challenges of Covid-19 the 2020 appeal has had to change.
Last year, Team Hope delivered its two millionth shoebox to children living in poverty. An impressive 270,488 shoeboxes were sent to Africa and eastern Europe for Christmas - a feat that was only possible with help from people like Debbie Maher from Westmeath.
For the past few years, she has been working with Team Hope coordinator Alison Murphy, sorting through boxes before they get sent out - and doing a bit of busking with her ukulele group to drum up support. In 2019, Debbie and five others took to Longford Shopping Centre in aid of the cause. They sang, played, and gave out leaflets encouraging people to fill their own shoeboxes.
“The music gets people’s attention. A lot of people don’t actually know what the charity is so it’s a great way to tell people what we’re doing it for and about all the wonderful work Team Hope do,” Debbie said.
Stylist and mother-of-two Ruth Sheridan got involved in the shoebox appeal following the tragic death of her first child. Every year since 2015, she and husband Eamonn have helped their local County Cavan team, ensuring that hundreds of shoeboxes reach the main Cavan team sorting centre on time. “I wanted to get involved, get busy and give back. It’s such a good feeling to know you’re making a difference,” Ruth said.
Founded in 2010, international Christian development charity, Team Hope is best known for the Christmas Shoebox Appeal, but it also provides longer-term development work with children, their families and communities in Africa and Eastern Europe. Every year thousands of individuals in Ireland donate shoeboxes filled with gifts. It is an opportunity to share a little joy and excitement with children who live in circumstances where these can be in short supply.
Shoeboxes are given to children who are most vulnerable, identified with the help of charities, local churches or the local government. They may be:
Children from families affected by poverty (i.e. low income or unemployed households)
Children from single parent families, or with ill parents
Children with no living parents
Children living with disabilities or illness
Children from ethnic or social groups facing discrimination
Children living in institutions (e.g. orphanages, groups homes etc)
Children suffering from illnesses
LEAH IN KENYA
After receiving her shoebox Leah from Kenya wrote, “I was as happy as a king when I went to receive my shoebox. I got items like colouring pencils, pens, soap, socks, sweets and other things. I pray God would bless the person who gave me these items. When I went home I gave my brother the colouring pencils and he was very happy. He enjoyed the beauty of his picture.”
“If there were more people like you, the world would be so much better.”
DANIEL IN UKRAINE
Daniel’s mother wrote, “I am a mother of a special child with a physical disability. I want to thank you for the shoebox, which my son got and was very happy with. Most of all Daniel liked the toothpaste, pencils, notepad, small cars and figures of animals. If there were more people like you, the world would be so much better. Thank you so much.”
TEAM UP FOR TEAM HOPE
Owing to the effects of Covid-19 restrictions and wanting to ensure the safety of supporters, the Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal has gone online for 2020. It is an opportunity for schools, families, friends, communities and businesses to #TeamUpForTeamHope by donating gift-filled shoeboxes online at www.teamhope.ie.
CEO Peter Heaney says, “The Covid-19 crisis has presented huge challenges for people throughout Ireland, so you can only imagine the immeasurable impact that Covid-19 has had in countries where basic sanitation and access to education is far from universal. This year, more than ever, every shoebox counts.”
Team Hope is encouraging people across Ireland to work together in any way they can to purchase shoeboxes online for €20 each in the build up to Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal Week, 9 - 15 November 2020. Online shoebox donations will be accepted until 23 December 2020. The donations will allow Team Hope’s network of local partners in Africa and Eastern Europe to purchase items for shoeboxes, which will then be wrapped and delivered directly into the hands of children. Often these shoeboxes are the only gift that a child will receive at Christmas and the joy that they deliver is incredible.
Donors can personalise their shoebox online by uploading a picture or image and will also be able to select gift items from the 4W’s that they would like to add to their box, for example:
Something to Wear - Socks, underwear, gloves, hats
Something to Wash with – Hair clips, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap bar
Something to Write with – Exercise books, pencils, pens, pencil sharpener
Something to Wow - Cuddly toy, colouring book, toy ball, sweets
The online shoeboxes will be given to children, aged 2-14 years, in Africa and Eastern Europe. A new Shoebox Counter also will allow donors to follow regular updates on Team Hope’s social media pages.
SO HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?
Start by donating a shoebox for €20 on www.teamhope.ie and encouraging your family, business, school, church or sports club to do the same. You can team up with family, friends, neighbours or colleagues to run a fundraiser and raise money to donate shoeboxes online. New Volunteer Packs show you how you can run your fundraiser as well as how to promote the appeal online. See the website for ideas and guidance or contact the Team Hope office at info@teamhope.ie.
Christmas Shoebox Appeal Coordinator Jonathan Douglas said, “Unfortunately, Team Hope cannot accept physical shoeboxes for the 2020 Shoebox Appeal. If you do have shoeboxes already packed we’re very grateful for your support! We’re encouraging everyone to keep them somewhere safe until next year. If they contain sweets, please check the sell by date on these to ensure they are still in date to March 2022. Thank you all for your support for the Christmas Shoebox Appeal as we make the move online this year!”
