More than 4500 shoeboxes filled and sorted this year

By Sarah Slevin

More than 4500 shoeboxes were filled and sorted in Mullingar for this year’s annual charity appeal.

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.

Team Hope local co-ordinator for Westmeath, Alison Murphy, said 2021 has been a successful year for the appeal.

“We were delighted with the response, 4502 shoe boxes were shipped on Friday November 26 and are on their way to Albania,” Alison told the Westmeath Examiner.

She that the shoeboxes have been sent to “children in orphanages, hospitals and those living in extreme poverty”.

Rachel Cogavin from Raharney volunteered for the first time this year, and said the success of the appeal in the area is a credit to all of Alison’s hard work.

“Alison has been amazing; she’s been doing this for years and gives up her time for it. Alison takes it on with Team Ireland in Dublin and even though she doesn’t know how much help she will get, she gets through it,” Rachel said.

Rachel added that it was a big community effort, and Simon Marriot made a hub space available for the work, and schools and families helped out.

“It’s a big credit to all the local schools, and all the principals who promote it among the kids, and the parents, because it’s such a lovely idea and is invaluable to those children in need,” Rachel said.

“Lots of these children have never got gifts. It’s strange for us here to understand that there are children out there who just don’t have a pen, or certain hygiene products,” Rachel added.