Drone delivery for Shoebox appeal launch – can you make up a Christmas shoebox?

The launch of the sixth annual Shoebox Appeal in Wrexham for local charity Teams4U started in style at the Llay Warehouse when a drone flew a shoebox full of gifts over the heads of assembled guests.

Speaking at the event, charity founder Dave Cooke said : “It was a novel way to launch the event but the reality is we have to use more traditional methods to get shoeboxes to the kids in need each Christmas time which means we are totally reliant on volunteers and the goodwill of local people and for that we are incredibly grateful.”

“This year will prove just as challenging logistically but with the help and support of Wrexham residents and those further afield we will make it happen and deliver gifts to those that would not ordinarily get one and that makes my Christmas.”

Teams4U have launched their sixth annual Shoebox Appeal in Wrexham with an event, officiated by the Mayor and Mayoress of Wrexham, in their unit in Llay Industrial Estate. For Teams4U Christmas is an all year round project preparing for thousands of Shoebox gifts heading to children and families in Eastern Europe.

Just six years ago, the charity sent slightly over 4,000 Christmas gifts to deprived children in Romania whilst last year 5 articulated lorries delivered 38,000 Shoeboxes across orphanages, homes and schools in Belarus, Bosnia, Romania and Ukraine.

The charity has grown to have a national presence with volunteers running Shoebox centres from Cumbria to Cornwall and they have big hopes to send over 50,000 Christmas Shoeboxes to children overseas this year.

The charity says these gifts are often the only gift the receiving child will get at Christmas – perhaps even at all in their childhood – and are eagerly anticipated by the children.

Teams 4U’s Overseas Project Coordinator Ziz York commented: “We’re so grateful that the Mayor of Wrexham, Cllr Andy Williams could join us to mark our launch for another year and we thank him and the Mayoress, Bev for the interest that they’ve always taken in what we do.

Thanks to everyone who came tonight and celebrated the official opening of our new charity headquarters and the launch of our #ShoeboxAppeal in #Wrexham.🎄🎁 pic.twitter.com/EH7DBQl75q

— Teams4u (@Teams4u) November 8, 2018

Having the Mayor thank our volunteers was really important for us.

“Having been out to Romania and seen for myself just how little these families have and the joy a shoebox brings to a child that otherwise wouldn’t get a gift it makes me so proud of how supportive our community are. We really wouldn’t achieve any of this without our volunteers and those whom donate the boxes. Thank you.”

The charity need your help – Can you make up a Christmas shoebox?

So what goes in a Christmas Shoebox? – The boxes for boys and girls often include toys, stationery, sweets and a winter hat/gloves whilst the charity also receives boxes for the home suggesting useful household items such as candles, soap, clothes pegs and cooking utensils.

The charity will be receiving boxes locally in the following drop-off points until Friday 30th November and if anyone is struggling to locate an empty shoebox, most of the drop-off points also provide spare shoeboxes.

A list of ideas on what goes can go in the shoeboxes can be found on the charity’s website: http://www.teams4u.com and videos of shoeboxes being made such as the one below can be found on the charity’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Teams4Utube

Drop-off points:
Wrexham warehouse, Unit 8 Llay Ind. Est. LL12 0TU, open 9.30am-4pm Mon-Fri
Manna Bookshop, Charles Street, Wrexham, LL13 8BT open 9.30am-5pm Mon-Sat
The Atrium, Croesnewydd Hall, Wrexham, LL13 7YP, open 8.30am-3.30pm.

The following addresses will provide spare shoeboxes and are drop-offs in the evenings: 25 Chester Road, LL11 2SF and Cair Paravel, Rhosrobin Road, LL11 4PG.