On a chilly Thursday marking the end of Summer, SI Port Talbot Members were treated to a wonderful presentation by Glenys Jones from Blythswood shoe-box appeal. The Blythswood Shoe Box Appeal is a charitable initiative organized by Blythswood Care, a Christian charity based in Scotland. The appeal collects gift-filled shoe-boxes from donors across the UK. The donated shoe-boxes are then shipped and distributed to people in need across Eastern Europe and other regions in time for Christmas.
Their key purpose is to provide joy and practical support to people living in poverty, especially children, the elderly, and families in crisis. Doners fill shoe boxes with items such as toiletries, school supplies, hat and scarf or new underwear, toy and treats. Some boxes are allocated genders and age ranges to help doners fill them with appropriate items.
The boxes are typically collected around October/ early November, then transported to disadvantaged communities such as Romania, Albania, Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine etc. for distributing before Christmas.
SI members were fascinated to hear the complexities of the shipping prosses, as well as stories of past trips and challenges faced by volunteers who travel to the remote communities with the shoe-boxes.
SI Port Talbot members were keen to support such an amazing initiative.
To watch a video of the amazing work and hope provided by the shoe-box appeal please follow the video link; https://youtu.be/ftlfu7FY0_8
For more information or ways to help please visit;https://blythswood.org/shoeboxappeal/