Shoe Boxes To Kosovo

The big news this week is that Colchester Boiler Room will be Collecting Shoe Boxes filled with goodies for children this Sunday 17th November 2013.

Below are the instructions for how best to fill a shoe box. I spoke with Liz Andrew, one of the leaders of our community who used to work in Kazakhstan and  was familiar with getting shoeboxes to hand out to people in need. She said the ones they always run low on are the 10-14 year old boy shoeboxes. So if you really want to make up the most needed box fill one up for a boy 10-14 year old.

All the shoeboxes are coming to a town called Gjakova in Kosovo. This is the place that steve went and lived in for 4 months about 5 years ago. Steve and Tina went again in 2011 and the people there are incredible. Many are still struggling from the effects of the war that happened with Serbia and poverty is a real every day thing there.

The shoeboxes you fill will be given to Roma Gypsies Children and for many this will be all they receive this Christmas. So if you have a spare shoebox or two lying around... consider filling it and then bring it it around our Community House 17th November 2013. Our community regularly shares a Sunday Meal from 1:00 to 3:00pm on Sunday so drop it off around then and you can have lunch with us too!!

Hope to see lots of you with your shoeboxes this Sunday!

Here is the instructions for filling the boxes: 

Choose to fill a box with item either for 2-4 years, 5-9 years or 10-14 years

The list of items suggested for each box are:
- cuddly toy
- toothbrush, toothpaste, bar of wrapped soap, flannel
- note pad, drawing paper, picture, comic books
- pencils, pens and pencil sharpener
- hat, cap, gloves or scarf
- small ball or tennis ball
- a puzzle (small jigsaw)
- For boys: a toy car, truck, passenger plane or similar and football cards
- For girls: small jewellery set, doll, skipping rope or hair accessories
- a greetings card and / or a photo of yourself
- wrapped sweets (sell by date must be at least March 2014)

Do not include:
- chocolate or other edible items due to customs
- war related items, toy guns, planes, soldiers, knives
- clothing (other than above)
- glass containers, mirrors, fragile items
- liquids of any type, i.e. bubbles, shower gel, shampoo
- marbles or sharp objects
- anything political or religious or racial
- medicines
- books with many words
- hand made or knitted stuffed toys