Gift-filled shoeboxes will soon be distributed to disadvantaged children across Eastern Europe, with a large number heading to Ukraine this Christmas.
Woodside Business Park, at Wirral Waters, will be the operational HQ for the Wirral Christmas shoebox appeal.
Teams4U was set up in 2006 by Dave Cooke, from Wrexham. In 1990, Dave founded the shoebox gift concept when he began sending lorry-loads of supplies and aid to help children in Romanian orphanages
Last year Teams4U volunteers across the UK collected 66,757 Christmas shoeboxes from schools, churches, community groups and individuals and distributed them to disadvantaged children in countries such as Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, Bosnia and Georgia. The Teams4U charity continues its good work all year round, supporting local people in these countries – and in Africa – to help improve the quality of their lives.
Peel L&P has, once again, donated the use of its Woodside Business Park premises at Wirral Waters to the charity where volunteers will check, prepare and pack the shoeboxes into cartons, ready for onward transmission to Eastern Europe in time for Christmas.
Val Peter, local co-ordinator for Teams4U, said: “You can turn something as simple as a shoebox into something really special for a child, a real Aladdin’s cave full of items that they will treasure, and it shows them that we all care deeply about them.”
Teams4U are looking for people to donate filled shoeboxes or even just some of the items to go inside them. Ideal gifts include toothbrushes and toothpaste, soaps and face cloths, hair accessories, hairbrushes, stationery and writing materials, hats, scarves and gloves, small toys, games and puzzles, small musical instruments, small rubber balls, tennis balls, and sweets. The charity also welcomes cash donations, which help to cover the cost of transporting the boxes around Europe.
Val added: “We’re delighted that Peel L&P has provided the space for us to carry out our Christmas shoebox appeal again this year. It will mean we are able to process a large number of shoeboxes in time for Christmas. Please drop your shoeboxes in to Woodside Business Park or even stick around and help us out with this wonderful appeal.”
Bill Deveraux, Asset and Project Manager for Peel L&P’s Wirral Waters, said: “Teams4U is a fantastic charity spreading joy and love to children who wouldn’t otherwise experience the magic of Christmas. We are very proud to support their efforts again this year by donating the use of two of our units at Wirral Waters which will enable volunteers can sort and pack the shoeboxes ready for their long journey across Europe.”
If you’d like to help, please contact Val Peter on 07443 333150 or email valpeter45@outlook.com. Donated shoeboxes can be dropped off at Units 120/121 at Woodside Business Park, Shore Road, Birkenhead, by Wednesday 23rd November.
If you want to find out more about Teams4U, visit their website www.teams4u.com.
