Shoebox

Originally started by North West Rotary clubs in 1994, the Rotary Shoebox Scheme was then intended to provide children of Iasi, in north-east Romania with Christmas gifts. Since then, the scheme has become a national project supported not only by Rotary clubs but also by individuals, schools, companies, churches, Inner Wheel, Rotaract & Interact etc.

Gifts are now sent out throughout the year to many different countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Toys are especially useful all year round for Birthday presents in the Orphanages, Homes and Hospitals. All age groups, including teenagers, have welcomed the boxes. We have delivered to children and teenagers in orphanages, hospitals and also to street kids. To Adults in TB and AIDS hospitals. To disadvantaged families and to womens refuges. To older folk in hostels with no supporting families.  In addition to Romania, Shoebox gifts have been delivered to Belarus, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Albania, Croatia and Kosovo.  Each year we now send around 60,000 Shoeboxes or gifts. 

The strengths of the Rotary Shoebox Scheme over other similar schemes are:

• It operates all year round.
• The boxes are distributed to known contacts
• We can guarantee that every Shoebox goes to a deserving child or family.

To find out more visit our website http://www.rotaryshoebox.org