Preston Rotary Club - Oldway School Shoebox appeal 2025

Oldway Primary School pupils step up to support Rotary’s Shoebox Appeal

Generous pupils from Oldway Primary School are helping to bring some Easter cheer to children and struggling families in Eastern Europe by filling shoeboxes with toys and goodies.

The pupils and their families filled 76 boxes which were crammed full with all sorts of treats including little toys, colouring pencils, household items and toiletries for poor families in Romania and handed over to Keith Wilby from Preston(Torbay) Rotary Club.

They were then taken away to join a further 7000 boxes donated from all over the country and made ready for the 1600 mile trip across five countries. Their destination is Cluj in Romania and will reach there in time for Easter where they will be distributed to orphanages, schools and hospitals in the region.

The Rotary Shoebox Scheme was founded over 30 years ago to enable boxes full of toys and essentials to be given as gifts, helping to bring some happiness to disadvantaged people in Eastern Europe. The charity operates all year round, and tries to ensure there are always deliveries at Christmas and Easter. It is a UK-registered, not-for-profit charity with no paid employees. Over 1.2 million boxes have been sent to children and families in countries all over Eastern Europe including Ukraine, Poland, Moldova and Montenegro as well as Romania.

Steve Latham, President of Preston (Torbay) Rotary Club said: "The pupils did really well and filled a lot of boxes with some wonderful gifts. The gift of a shoebox will be the first present that some of these children will have ever received and it lets them know that somebody, somewhere cares. "

Charlotte Claridge who coordinated the collection at Oldway School, said: "We had a fantastic response from pupils and parents who really wanted to help and to have the boxes there in time for Easter will just add that little bit of extra magic"

Preston (Torbay) Rotary Club is part of the worldwide Rotary charity, founded in 1905, which aims to positively impact lives at local, national and international levels. Further information about Preston Rotary Club and how you can be part of a friendly and dynamic local Charity can be found on their website at: preston.rotary1175.org