SCOIL Eoin pupils put together an amazing 366 shoeboxes in their annual appeal this year.

The school has been taking part in the Team Hope  Shoebox Appeal for years now and this year has been the most successful to date.

“We were absolutely overwhelmed with the response,” said teacher Carol Anne O’Donoghue who coordinated the appeal at the school with SNA Catherine Donohue .

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“The Scoil Eoin community never ceases to amaze us with their generosity. We are well aware of the time and cost involved in putting a box together. This appeal really helps to make children aware of others who have very little,” added Carol Anne.

Team Hope is an Irish, Christian, International Development Charity working to help children affected by poverty in Eastern Europe and Africa.

Shoeboxes are sent across the world to poor communities including Belarus, Eastern Europe and six countries across Africa.

Team Hope delivers the boxes straight into the hands of little boys and girls who are living in bleak conditions in orphanages, street shelters and homes.

The shoeboxes are a ‘box of love’ as such and are often the first present these children have ever received bringing joy and excitement to those living in difficult situations.

“Thanks to Mr. O’Toole for allowing us to go ahead with the appeal this year,” said Carol Anne. “Thanks to my first class pupils and Catherine Donohue for their help all week and for remaining nonchalant while their class was being overrun with Shoeboxes. Thanks to Ms. Curtin’s 6th class pupils who helped us to stack the boxes this morning. To anyone who helped in any way thank you.”

Team Hope representatives Brigid and Paddy Hegarty called to collect the boxes on Friday. and had to make two trips from Listowel because of the amount of boxes.