Despite the racy title, we are talking about filling shoe boxes with gifts here! Each box is filled with toys, small items of clothing and toiletries wrapped in festive paper before being collected by Mustard Seed Relief Mission. After they have checked each box (no war-related toys are allowed nor, strangely, shampoos or socks) they are put in containers and start off on the long drive to Eastern Europe. On arrival in Moldova they are distributed to children in hospitals and orphanages to bring a little happiness into their lives at Christmas.
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This year we have collected 24 boxes, slightly fewer than the 26 we collectcted last year. The appeal thisyear ran for 5 weeks from 28th September to 2nd November.
Members, their wives and partners, friends and neighbours again showed great kindness with a great response, filling 26 boxes with gifts for the boys and girls in the hospitals and orphanages in Moldova.
All the boxes have now been taken to our local collection point, Oak Lodge Primary School, from where they will be picked up by the Mustard Seed charity and taken down to Eastbourne, where they are checked and stored prior to the long onwards journey across Europe.
The Love in a Box scheme has been running for over 20 years and we are one of many clubs, who together with schools and churches, fill shoe boxes with presents for the children.
Everything we give is checked by the volunteers in Eastbourne for customs purposes and it all gets used in some way. Each container is packed with about 8,000 boxes and there are usually 4 container loads, driven by volunteers who set off on the long drive to Moldova.
Thank you again to all our supporters for your generosity.
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back Club activities from previous years