LIMERICK people have been at the forefront of sending love and hope to children in war zones and the developing world, all wrapped up in 12,000 gaily covered shoeboxes.
But the willing volunteers at Team Hope, the organisation that co-ordinates the appeal are now desperate to find a premises where they can process and ship out THE gifts.
“We’re getting very worried now because the deadline is approaching. We need an empty warehouse or factory space preferably with a loading bay, where we can process the boxes and ship them out,” said Nora Collins, one of the organisers of the appeal in the Mid West.
The boxes need to be checked, loaded and shipped from a central location, where up to 80 volunteers give their time to the cause.
“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. There’s no issue with owners having to pay rates and we have our own insurance”.
The volunteers need the premises for three weeks from around November 8.
The boxes are wrapped and filled with small gifts, such as sweets, gloves, colouring pencils and cuddly toys.
The majority of the 12,000 shoeboxes 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
