03/10/2023
The 2023 Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal aims to deliver as many gift-filled shoeboxes as possible to children, for whom poverty is their every-day reality, and make smiles happen. And, they need your help!
Team Hope is calling on parents, children, teachers, families and communities to build-a-box at home or online to help them reach their goal of 200,000 shoeboxes this year. Every shoebox equals a smile on a child’s face in 12 countries across Africa and Eastern Europe – that’s got to be a target worth achieving!
Last year, shoeboxes donated by people from all over Westmeath went to make children like Ion smile in Transnistria. Five year old Ion lives with his sister, mother and grandmother and was overjoyed at getting his Christmas Shoebox. He especially loved his toy cars. He was so surprised to get not one but five cars. He was so proud and happy to show everyone his shoebox gifts.
It has never been easier to build a shoebox. All you have to do is find an empty shoebox, wrap it in Christmas paper and fill it with gifts for a boy or girl aged between 2 and 14, give online or attach a €5 donation and bring it to a local drop off point before the deadline of Friday November 10th. Or you can build-a-box online by donating at www.teamhope.ie and one of Team Hope’s local partners will build a box on your behalf on-the-ground and make sure it goes where it’s needed most.
When building your shoebox, think about the 4 Ws
WRITE - something to write with. For example, colouring pencils, pens, copy books
WASH - something to wash with. For example, a bar of soap and a face cloth
WEAR - something to wear. For example, a hat & scarf, socks, gloves
WOW - something fun or a novelty. For example, a toy or treat
A special focus for the campaign is the Team Hope Shoebox Week which runs this year from November 4-10.
To get involved you’ll find plenty of inspiration on gifts to include, or not, in your shoebox, how to donate and where to drop off your shoebox at www.teamhope.ie. For teachers, there are lots of class lesson plans and teaching resources available online. If finding an empty shoebox is proving tricky, Team Hope partner and drop off point Dealz will be selling flatpack shoeboxes in packs of three in their stores nationwide.
Follow Team Hope on Facebook at www.facebook.com/team.hope.ireland and Twitter and Instagram and TikTok
Team Hope is an Irish, Christian and child-focused international development organisation. Founded in 2010, we work in Africa and Eastern Europe to help children affected by poverty or marginalisation.
