THE boys and girls in O’Brennan NS have been busy participating in the Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal.
On Thursday, the shoeboxes were counted and collected by Team Hope with a final total of 112 made up by the pupils.
Team Hope’s Christmas Shoebox Appeal is an annual campaign that delivers gifts straight into the hands of children affected by poverty all around the world.
Over the past few weeks, the Student Council co-ordinated the initiative with all members of the school community getting on board to donate and build their own shoeboxes. A generous effort by all to support such a wonderful cause.
TV sports presenter, mum and author, Jacqui Hurley is calling on families, schools, businesses and communities across Kerry to join in the Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal.
Since 2010, the Appeal has delivered 2.5 million shoeboxes to children in countries across Eastern Europe and Africa who are experiencing poverty.
These shoeboxes, filled with essential items as well as something fun, are lovingly created by people all across the country. They are often the only gift these children receive that year. Last year, shoeboxes from Kerry went to children in Romania.
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Jacqui Hurley said, “Let’s get together and bring hope and joy to as many children as possible. It’s so easy to get involved and each year this simple act of kindness, filling a shoebox with gifts to bring a smile to a child’s face, lets these children know that they are in the heart and minds of the people of Ireland.”
To get involved, simply think about who your gift is for – a boy or girl aged between 2-14, wrap a shoebox in colourful, bright wrapping paper and be sure to include at least one item from the 4 W’s:
· Something to write with. Perhaps include copybooks, pens or colouring pencils
· Something to wear. Maybe a hat, scarf and gloves, warm woolly socks or a t-shirt
· Something to wash with. A lovely bar of wrapped soap, a facecloth, some toothpaste and a toothbrush
· Something wow. Think of a toy or game that will bring a smile to a child’s face – maybe a puzzle or doll or a toy car or soft toy.
Pop a Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal label on the front, include €5, close the lid and secure with an elastic band. If finding a shoebox is tricky, you can buy flat pack boxes in Dealz stores nationwide or, build a box online at www.teamhope.ie/shoeboxappeal.
Shoeboxes should be dropped off at one of hundreds of drop off points nationwide, or at your local DEALZ store by the 10th November.
For teachers who would like to get their class involved, there are lots of class lesson plans and teaching resources available online. For businesses who would like to get involved, a site visit can be arranged to discuss how you can support Team Hope not just at Christmas but year round.
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.
THE pupils from Scoil Eoin have been very busy this past week gathering items for the annual Christmas Shoebox Appeal for those less fortunate.
The appeal was co-ordinated by the Students Council and by Thursday they had gathered 45o boxes and €1,100 in cash to donate to Team Hope who bring the boxes to children in Eastern Europe and Africa.
Usually a shoebox contains something to write with (pencils, crayons, etc), something to wash with (like a toothbrush or facecloth), something to wear and a treat like a cuddly toy etc. and is the only gift the children will receive this Christmas.
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Teacher Carol Anne O’Donoghue is the co-ordinator of the Students Council – which is made of 12 representatives from the 5th and 6th classes – and said the pupils in the school really got into it.
“There was great enthusiasm among the pupils to help. I gave them the task of filling the shoeboxes on their mid-term break and they came back with the boxes overflowing. The Students Council then helped me go through the boxes to sort them out,” she said.
The boxes are being collected on Friday by Team Hope and pupils can see videos of the children in Africa and Eastern Europe receiving and opening them on the Team Hope website in a few weeks time.
Team Hope is an Irish, Christian development aid charity, working with children, and through them, into their families and communities mainly across Eastern Europe, former Soviet Union and Africa
Over the last eighteen years they have delivered shoebox gifts to over three million children, to some of the remotest and poorest parts of the world.