A Monthly Publication

 It is time again to plan and work towards the Christmas Shoe Boxes we send from Hunstanton and the surrounding area to Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia. Last year we sent 826 boxes from this corner of Norfolk and 1.2 million from the UK. Our shoe boxes went to Serbia or Kyrgyzstan.

              A report on the Serbian delivery was featured in a Samaritan’s Purse newsletter.  A community called Deponia or ‘rubbish dump’ exists under the Gazella Bridge in Belgrade and is home to 900 under-13s and their families. ‘Children were running everywhere through rusty metal, broken glass and muddy sludge in boots too big, old boots and no boots at all, anticipating excitement at receiving the shoe boxes...  So amidst the powerful stench of rotting garbage, we unpacked the boxes at the edge of the settlement... The look on the children’s faces says everything. Despite wearing clothes not suitable for the conditions and standing ankle deep in mud, as they wait for their shoe box, they are oblivious to the cold and rain.’

Kyrgyzstan is in Asia, to the west of China. It is a mountainous country. 55% of the workforce is employed in agriculture, unemployment is nearly 20% and 50% live below the poverty line. A report of one delivery of boxes found ‘Poverty is tangible, even down to the outside toilet, which has no roof.’  In one house, 3 children waited eagerly for their boxes. The youngest boy, aged 6, opened his and found a pad of paper and pens which he gave to his sister, because she went to school and he did not. She gave him the teddy bear from her box.

The children who receive boxes may be in orphanages, refugee camps or hospitals. They may be homeless; living on the streets, or even in sewers, or just simply in very impoverished neighbourhoods. For many of the children, their shoe box is the first Christmas present they have ever received.

Between now and November 18^th various groups and organisations within the town will be collecting items and packing boxes. If you would like to participate, either by packing your own box or donating goods, the following information may be helpful.

Box content should be appropriate for age groups 2-4 years, 5-9 years or 10-14 years. Items should be new and should include the following:

Toys – soft toy, ball, skipping rope, yo-yo etc. Soft toys must carry a CE label and handmade knitted, stuffed toys can no longer be included.

Educational supplies – pens, pencils, crayons, felt pens, paper, rubber, pencil sharpener, notebooks, colouring books etc

Hygiene items – flannel or sponge, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, comb, hair items for girls etc

Clothing – hat or cap, gloves or mittens, scarf. Knitting patterns are available from Veronica Welham for hats, mittens and glove puppets.

Sweets – sell-by date of March 2010 at least

Each box should also include an administration and transportation fee of £2.50 per box. Contributions towards this are also welcome.

The following must not be included:

Any other food, chocolate, medicines or vitamins, war-related items, other clothing, fragile items (glass containers or mirrors) liquids or gels, aerosols, marbles or sharp items, novels or anything of a religious or political nature.

Goods and boxes may be left at the following drop-off points:

Salvation Army shop, Westgate, during opening hours.

Union Church, Sandringham Road, during Wednesday mornings and at other times by arrangement.

If you require further information, contact:

Mrs Veronica Welham, 532812 or CLOAKING or look on the Samaritans Purse website www.samaritanspurse.org.uk

Finally, the boxes will be dedicated at a family and parade service at Union Church on November 15^th at 10.30. You are most welcome to join us. Thank you for your support.