Applemore's Shoeboxes
Shoeboxes 2012
Shoebox Success!
Thanks to tremendous support from local schools, organisations, Herald readers and individuals, Hythe & Waterside Rotary has been able to send a near-record number of gift-filled shoeboxes to disadvantaged children overseas. The local community really rallied round to donate either filled shoeboxes or items that could be included in them, resulting in an amazing 457 shoeboxes being shipped to needy children in Albania, Montenegro, Tanzania, Moldova, and the Philippines.
Organisations contributing to the scheme included Applemore College, Cornerstone Church, Hounsdown School, Hythe Inner Wheel, Hythe Primary School, Ichthus Charity, New Forest Academy, Noadswood School, Oak Lodge School, Waterside Gateway Club, and Wildground Infant School. In addition, some individuals organised a number of filled boxes, in particular Gill Godfrey and Mena Miguel, and one lady also dropped off a bag full of beautifully hand knitted teddies. All the shoeboxes were sorted according to age and gender of the child they were suitable for and then packed by members of Hythe Rotary into large packing cases and taken to a warehouse ready for onward shipment overseas.
Applemore College teacher Jennifer Macdonald (centre back) with some of her pupils who helped with the Rotary Shoebox Scheme