Shoebox Scheme

The Rotary Shoebox Scheme

In parts of Eastern Europe such as Romania and Moldova, Christmas can be a very lean time. So every year, Mounts Bay Rotary organises a shoe box scheme whereby schools, children, faith groups and individuals collect all kinds of items such as clothes, toys and so on to help bring a little Christmas cheer to families that have, literally, nothing. 

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. Indeed, we are delighted to welcome anyone who would like to be involved.

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 women 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.

The boxes now travel either overland by lorry, or by sea container. We use the services of International Aid Trust (IAT), a Christian Charity who have a long association with Rotary in the north-west of England and who help with both Transportation and Warehouse storage. Distribution is always through known contacts.

We are officially tied in with Hope & Homes and regularly supply their foster homes with boxes of gifts.One of the advantages of the Shoebox Scheme is that it can be both a geography and social lesson for the children who pack them. However, the main advantage is that it can be a positive way for 'Children to Help Children.'