Over 100 Christmas parcels have been sent out to families in South East Europe by volunteers from Warminster United Church.
The church collects items throughout the year to fill shoeboxes in time for Christmas.
This year, 123 shoeboxes were sent out, full of items such as toiletries, clothes, toys, stationery, makeup, household tools, hair accessories and sweets. A total of 113 boxes were sent to House of Opportunity in Salisbury to be distributed to families in South East Europe, and 10 boxes were taken to a local women’s refuge.
“A big thank you to all, from the church and the local community, who contributed in any way,” said Joan, one of the organisers of the shoebox appeal at the church.
“We hope to do the same next year. We will start collecting things to go in the boxes after Easter.”
A fundraising coffee morning at Warminster United Church on 8th November raised £263.85 to go towards the transportation of the boxes, which will be distributed by House of Opportunity next month.
“The unusual name of House of Opportunity comes from one of their main projects, which is to provide homes for children leaving state care in Eastern Europe,” said Joan.
“Many such children leave care with nowhere to go and very few life skills, easily falling prey to traffickers and exploitation. The homes they provide are truly ‘Houses of Opportunity’, where young people can further their education, learn skills and find work.”
The boxes are distributed to children and adults in all kinds of circumstances, including abandoned children living in state care, poor rural schools and kindergartens, women’s refuges, prisoners’ children, isolated or lonely elderly folk, refugees and Roma children living in difficult conditions.
In preparation for next year’s Christmas shoebox appeal, Warminster United Church is asking people to donate empty shoeboxes to pack the items in.
“As The Factory Shop has now closed in Warminster, we have lost our main suppliers of empty boxes, so would like to ask anyone, throughout the year, who has an empty shoebox to bring it along to the United Church,” said Joan.
To get involved with the shoebox appeal, visit https://houseofopportunity.org/what-we-do/christmas-box-appeal/how-to-pack-a-shoebox/
