LAST year, the generous people of Limerick made Christmas a lot more special for more than 12,000 children in the developing world by sending them shoe boxes packed with love and gifts.
But the local volunteers working with the Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal are desperate to find a premises for this year’s operation, as some options they thought were open to them have not worked out.
The boxes need to be checked, loaded and shipped from a central location, where up to 80 volunteers give their time to the cause.
Nora Collins, one of the people who helps co-ordinate the annual appeal, told the Limerick Post that the team are getting anxious as the deadline for gathering and processing the gift-boxes approaches.
“We desperately need a premises of around 10,000 square feet, at a central location and preferably with a loading bay that we can use as a warehouse to get the boxes ready. We thought there were a couple of options but they haven’t materialised and we really need to start making plans now because the final date for collecting the boxes is November 11,” she explained.
The team have their own insurance and they don’t even expect heat – just light so they can work into the evening as the winter darkens.
The volunteers need the premises for three weeks from around November 8.
“The backbone of the appeal’s success has to be the number of schools that participate and this year they were joined by local companies, active retirement groups and individuals. We are also appreciative of our volunteers, who brave the cold to sort, check, seal and carton the boxes every year”.
“To say we were overwhelmed with the number of boxes donated last year is an understatement and I would like to say a huge “thank you” to all involved in making 2015 a truly great year,” said Norah.
And she urged the thousands of Limerick people who support the appeal, to “continue knitting and collecting. Christmas 2016 is almost upon us”.
The boxes are wrapped and filled with small gifts, such as sweets, glove, colouring pencils and cuddly toys.
The majority of the boxes donated in Limerick last year went to Africa but they are also going war zones and refugee camps, places where people have no means to provide Santa for their children.
Anyone who can help with a premises or any other assistance should contact Nora at 087 – 9384583
