The Christmas Shoebox Campaign for 2021 is up and running, with Christmas in Kent combining with Nationwide Dover, who will be storing and sorting the boxes and gifts from there for 2021.
CommunityAd caught up with Paul Swinerd to find out a little bit more about the campaign and how local residents can get involved.
“This year’s appeal is going to be aimed at disadvantaged children, mums and children in a hostel and the elderly. Anyone who wishes to donate to the Homeless we suggest you contact Footprints on London Road and drop your boxes into them.
“A big thanks to Emma Mackenzie and Hannah Golding for their support of this. Drop off points to date are: Nationwide Dover, Pre Loved Plus, Little Crafty House, Sam Philpott in Hythe, Emma Mackenzie in River, and Tracy Anne Norris in Deal.
“We will still be looking for other drop off points, I will also still collect and help with the event once again, but not in such a big way as previous years. We hope to finish around the 10th December so they are ready for collection. We found last year we had far more boxes than homeless people in Dover so this year we are going to concentrate on the very young and the elderly.
“It is suggested the elderly boxes could contain thick socks, little hand warmers are also great, crossword and puzzle books, mince pies for example. Hot water bottles, Cup-a-soups, gloves and scarves. You can also include a small box of chocolates, a small jar of jam and even some nice tea bags. Anything small, things that come as a treat.
“For children, these boxes can contain anything you feel a child would love. All we ask is you give us a note saying what sex it is for and the age you have chosen. Mum and child family boxes could contain: a family game, i.e. card game, travel size game like Connect-4, sweets, Christmas chocolates, small puzzles, a couple of Christmas crackers and anything a mum would love to share with her young children this Christmas.”