Team Hope 'helping children realise they're not forgotten'
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Scoil Phádraig, Milltown, Rathconrath are supporting the Team Hope Shoebox appeal; here with some of the gifts are Liam Halligan, Niamh Pipim and Joy Scally.Image 2 of 6
Scoil Phádraig, Milltown, Rathconrath are supporting the Team Hope Shoebox appeal; Sadhbh Nally, Bobby Mahon and Ben Pierce were helping gather the gifts.Image 3 of 6
Scoil Phádraig, Milltown, Rathconrath are supporting the Team Hope Shoebox appeal; Sarah Nally, Clodagh O’Reilly and Róisín Scally helped sort the gifts.Image 4 of 6
Fergal Walsh, Seán Lennon, Hugh O’Reilly, pupils at Scoil Phádraig, Milltown, Rathconrath, supporting the Team Hope Shoebox appeal.Image 5 of 6
Alex from Malawi, delighted to receive school supplies as he didn’t own his own pen and needed a new copybook to be able to stay in school.Image 6 of 6
Oliya was abandoned as a baby on the steps of an orphanage in Transnistria, the poorest part of Europe, with the first gift she ever received.Caitlin Connors
With the festive season fast approaching, the local community has been called to support Team Hope’s annual Christmas Shoebox Appeal, supporting families and children in need across the world. The last day for collection of the shoeboxes is Tuesday November 17.
This year, Mr Price have teamed up with Team Hope for the shoebox appeal and many of their locations are drop-off points. They also have the items needed to make shoeboxes for children in need.
Alison Murphy, the volunteer who looks after the Westmeath collection, said: “They’ve come on board this year and they’ve done a whole section dedicated to the shoebox appeal, and you can pick up their ready-made boxes, which are printed to be coloured in. So, if people aren’t good at wrapping, that’s a great alternative.”
Other collection points in Mullingar include Fagan’s Toymaster and Petworld at Tesco Shopping Centre.
The Team Hope shoebox appeal is an annual campaign that delivers presents to poverty-stricken children. For many of the children, it is the only gift they will receive at Christmas. Since 2010, Team Hope has delivered three million shoeboxes to children across the world.
“It helps them to realise that they’re not forgotten,” said Alison. “The countries where we send them – there’s children living in extreme poverty. There’s little in the way of sort of social welfare to help families that are struggling.
“Hopefully the children who are living in Ireland realise how blessed they are. And they can give back to a child who is living in extreme poverty and help them to realise that they matter. They’re seeing that somebody cares enough to pack up a few gifts, put them in a box and send them. Somebody that they don’t know.”
“And they are blown away by that – that somebody somewhere cares enough to send them a little gift.”
For those who are unsure how to pack the shoebox, Team Hope recommend wrapping the box and lid separately, and to follow the four Ws as a guide on what can go into the shoebox: something to write with, to wash with, to wear, and to wow the child, like a toy to play with.
Pencils, pens, colours, soap, toothbrushes, underwear, hats, scarves, socks, cuddly toys, yoyos, and sweets are all examples of items that can be put into the shoebox.
There are three age categories for boys and girls; two to four, five to nine, and 10 to 14.
Team Hope ask people to avoid packing liquids, scary items, broken items, and for items to be age appropriate.
Donors can also builds boxes online through the team hope website. They accept donations until Christmas Eve.
Ms Murphy described how “instead of getting a shoebox, they’ll get a handmade school bag. And then they’ll be buying supplies locally, so that’s helping the community as well”.
For anyone who would like to get involved in collecting the boxes, volunteers will be meeting at Taghmon Church Hall on November 10 to begin the first round of collections.
For further inquiries and information contact Alison Murphy at 087 6894 597.
To donate a box online visit teamhope.ie.