Blythswood shoebox appeal aims to bring festive joy
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
AN appeal to help bring festive joy to some of the poorest people in Europe is due to get under way in Buckie soon.
The annual Buckie Blythswood Christmas shoebox appeal volunteers are putting the finishing touches to this year's campaign.
The shoeboxes, which this year will be bound for Romania, contain all manner of items from toiletries to toys, depending on the age group they are intended for. Members of the public and groups are being invited to hand in filled shoeboxes or items which the dedicated team of volunteers can use to fill empty boxes. Donations to help with the transport costs are also most welcome.
Buckie and the surrounding area rose to the challenge with aplomb last year and despite the Covid restrictions in place at the time and hardship caused by the pandemic, the astonishing total of 1400 shoeboxes were sent on their way to Eastern Europe This was only 100 boxes down on the previous year, which was unhindered by the uncharted waters of Covid.
Buckie Blythswood Support Group organiser George Flett is hoping that the local area will once again swing their weight behind the campaign.
He said: "We're running the campaign slightly later this year, but everything is up and running and ready to go.
"Some people are already working on filling shoeboxes and we're hoping to have a good year. We're covering an area which runs roughly from Portgordon to Portsoy.
"People have been so generous, even when we were in the depths of the pandemic, and hopefully we'll get a good response again. The indications at the moment are good. It makes such a difference to the people who receive these shoeboxes.
"We won't be working under the strict Covid rules we had last year but there will still be some restrictions in place to keep people safe."
Boxes can contain a range of items, including clothes, toiletries and stationery. Before filling a box, the donor should decide if the contents are intended for a child, a teenager, a man or a woman.
For advice and a checklist of what kind of items are required, visit https://blythswood.org
The Buckie Blythswood shoebox appeal will once again be using the Buckie Baptist Hall as a base with collections being accepted over Monday to Wednesday November 15-17. Opening times are: Monday – 2pm-7pm; Tuesday – 10am-7pm; Wednesday – 1pm-2pm.
date and location
