Rotary Shoeboxes will bring joy to many

Rotarians and friends have been busy filling shoeboxes as part of Rotary’s annual collection for orphanages and children’s homes in Eastern Europe. Originally started by Rotary clubs in Northwest England in1994, the Rotary Shoebox Scheme was 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, scouts and guides, companies, and churches. 50,000 boxes are now sent out annually 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 and older folk in hostels with no supporting families, welcome the boxes. The boxes travel either overland by lorry, or by sea container using 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 such as local Rotary Clubs and with Hope & Homes and Spurgeon’s who have been involved with the scheme since its inception ensuring that the shoeboxes go to those most in need. Photographs show: Pupils at Kirby Hill Primary School with their boxes and residents at Hill View Manor in Knaresborough assembling their boxes.