The gift of a shoebox that contains toys, toiletries, educational items or household goods is a drop of happiness to the people of Eastern Europe who live in a world of poverty. For many, it will be the first present that they have ever received and it lets them know that somebody, somewhere cares.  If you would like to take part, we would love to hear from you.

Our scheme caters for schools, colleges, companies, individuals and of course Rotary Clubs. You will need some of our special shoeboxes that identify you as a supporter of the Rotary Shoebox Scheme – see pictures on this page. Your local Rotary club might be able to provide some boxes, otherwise, follow the link on the right that best describes your organisation for more information and to place your order.

Easter Delivery

12,800 of your Shoebox Gifts are currently being delivered (4th April 2012) to western Romania in time for Easter. These will be distributed by our contacts out there, including ‘Hope and Homes for Children’ and ‘Spurgeons’.

SCANIA have again helped greatly, by loaning one of their tractor units for the journey.

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Christmas News

Ray is the only one looking directly at the camera

On Monday 12th December, a lorry set off from our Warehouse in Preston loaded with 13,600 of your shoebox gifts for the children and families of Odessa and Kiev in Ukraine. A similar load will shortly be setting off for north-east Romania and Moldova. RIBI President, Ray Burman, visited the Shoebox Warehouse twice in December. He was very impressed with what he saw and with all the practical work that the scheme generates for Rotarians throughout RIBI. On his second visit he made a video message to send to all Rotarians in the New Year via the Rotary website.
www.ribi.org/about-us/whos-who

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From Schools with love

Many schools throughout Britain and Ireland fill boxes for us to send out to children and families in Eastern Europe. This typifies our slogan ‘children helping children’. Here President Ray Waker of the Rotary Club of Old Meldrum and pupils and staff of Old Meldrum Academy are joined by Ron McKail (centre) our District organiser for Rotary District 1010 (Scotland north) as they gather their filled boxes ready for collection.

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District 1140 Fill Boxes at Conference

District Governor Mukesh Malhotra asked delegates to bring items to fill shoeboxes at his conference in Southampton in October. The items were then put into the Rotary shoeboxes at the Conference and 131 were filled. This was an ideal way of encouraging clubs to get involved with the Scheme and see how easily it can work. RIBI President Ray Burman was also at the Conference and enthusiastically gave his backing to the Scheme. We look forward to many clubs from District 1140 now joining the Scheme.

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Romania Trip

Elizabeth Tatman, part of the Shoebox team and a frequent visitor and advisor to the Santa Maria Children’s Hospital in Iasi, is going to Romania again next year.

There is a chance to join her on this trip, departing around the 25th April 2012 for ten days or so.

As well as seeing where Rotary Shoeboxes go, it is hoped to see some of the work of Hope and Homes for Children and possibly go over the border into Moldova.

For more details contact Elizabeth at: elizabeth.tatman@btinternet.com

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Not just at Christmas

As many of you will know, our shoebox scheme operates all year round, not just at Christmas. Last month we cleared out our main warehouse ready to start a new year and sent 2,972 boxes to Kiev, Ukraine.
These will be distributed by our good friend Pasha Ozeruga. He will eventually supply us with his usual report and photos, detailing how and where these boxes were given out.

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Top Rotary Club

Rotary InternationalAs we approach the last few weeks of this Rotary year, from our records, the top supporting Rotary Club this year is once again Greenock District 1230 (West Scotland) who remarkably filled over 3,000 boxes.
Top District is again D1010 (north and east Scotland) with over 10,000 boxes filled.
This is due in no small part to PDG Ron McKail. He organises the clubs to pre-order their boxes for a bulk delivery and collection.

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Going for 1,000 boxes a year

Arthur and Geraldine Fitzharris from Bray, Co. Wicklow (just north of Dublin) fill hundreds of Shoeboxes themselves every year. They do this by raising money with coffee mornings etc., and then buying from shops any unwanted stock or items with damaged packaging. Their aim is to fill 1,000 boxes a year.

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