Shoebox Squad aims to hit a thousand charity boxes
A change of school is no barrier to a pair of young charity supporters who aim to spread their festive cheer even further around Norwich this year.
A change of school is no barrier to a pair of young charity supporters who aim to spread their festive cheer even further around Norwich this year.
Tilly and Brown, both 12, initially encouraged their fellow pupils at Firside Junior School to donate shoebox gifts for those needing extra help over Christmas.
They have since moved on to Hellesdon High School, both part of the Wensum Trust, but that’s not stopping their altruistic plans as another round of shoebox gifts are already well under way.
They have been busy wrapping boxes and sorting an amazing array of donations already received from supporters and friends. There is just a fortnight left to get donations in as the closing date is Friday, November 14.
“Incredibly, they managed to fill 428 shoe boxes last year, they had packed 224 the previous year and were desperate to beat their total, but to get enough donations to nearly double absolutely blew us away,” said Tilly’s mum Donna Clarke.
“They have filled more than 800 shoe boxes since they first started collecting and are hoping to get this to more than 1,000 by the end of this year’s appeal.”
Both girls have had amazing support from both Firside Junior and Hellesdon High Schools and they are delighted with how this year is going.
“The willingness for Firside to still be involved with the appeals, long after they have left the school, really is a testament to how well they engage their students and instill such important values. We could not be more grateful to Lucy Seagrave and her staff for their ongoing support,” said Donna.
The girls are also working alongside local charity Friend in Deed which works with care homes and the older community in the area to encourage intergenerational friendships and reduce loneliness. They want to provide residents with Christmas gifts so everybody has a present to open.
The charities Leeway and Dawn's New Horizon, both in Norwich, will also receive boxes. They both support those in domestic abuse circumstances and the shoeboxes will be distributed in time for Christmas.
“I am so proud of our girls, watching them get excited about the project every year really is something special. They genuinely enjoy helping others and are willing to get stuck in at every opportunity. I know Sienna gets lots of pride out of the appeal and as her mum I feel it’s important for her to understand the true meaning of Christmas and to realise not everyone is as fortunate as us,” said Lucy Connor, Sienna’s mum.
“It is so important to teach children from a young age how to be kind and empathetic, helping others less fortunate and those in crisis. Values which we feel are important to take into their adult life. A simple smile and knowing someone cares really does go a long way,” added Donna.
Both mums said they were indebted to Viking Self Storage which has been a collection point and also provides a unit for storage and packing at no charge.
“We can’t do this from our homes, and last year an extra almost 500 people received gifts because of their kindness,” they said.
Collection points this year are: Viking Self Storage, Turnpike Close NR6 5BD Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm; Kerrison Toys, Aylsham Road NR3 2RX Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm and 10am to 4pm on Sunday; It’s My Party, Reepham Road, NR6 5AD Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm; Thorpewood Medical Practice, Woodside Road, NR7 9QL Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm; Dussingdale Medical Practice, Pound Lane NR7 0SR Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm. For students and family only, both Hellesdon High School and Firside Junior School are collecting.
The Shoebox Squad has its own Facebook page where regular updates are posted.