Local Team Hope shoebox appeal back this year
Sarah Slevin
People are being asked to rally behind Team Hope Westmeath’s Christmas Shoebox Appeal which is back in action this year. Every year, Team Hope have been appealing to the Irish public to put together shoeboxes of gifts and necessities to donate to children affected by poverty in Africa or Eastern Europe.
Last year, the Westmeath group were unable to gather and collect shoeboxes locally due to Covid-19 restrictions, but they are back in full swing this year.
Team Hope co-ordinator for Westmeath, Alison Murphy, has said that there is always room for extra volunteers.
“We normally have a team of around 20. Some people come to help for the year, some are here every year. It’s flexible – we’re always looking for new help,” Alison said.
The group will start on November 8, so anyone who would like to get in touch to help out can do so by contacting Alison on 087 689 4597.
Usually, the team works in a warehouse, but this year Team Hope Westmeath struggled to find a premises, until MFC Community Church helped out.
“The community church have very kindly agreed to give us use the building and they will also check boxes with us, which is absolutely amazing,” Alison said.
The Shoebox Appeal is open now, until 17 November, and Alison has encouraged people to think of the three Ws when putting together their boxes: Write, Wash, Wear and Wow.
“These boxes aren’t just gifts, they’re necessities as well. We like to include something to write with, for example school supplies. The second ‘w’ is something to wash with, a hygiene item such as a bar of soap or toothbrush/paste,” Alison said.
“The other things then are something to wear, preferably things like underwear, T-shirts or a hat. And then the last ‘w’ is something to make them go ‘wow’, that would be their gift, for example a toy,” Alison added.
When you have your boxes ready, you can take them to Fagan’s or Dealz in Mullingar for collection, until Team Hope get sorting from November 8.
To find out more about the Christmas Shoe Box Appeal, contact Alison or visit the website https://www.teamhope.ie/christmas-shoebox-appeal/.