Page 20 - Oundle Life March 2025

ROTARY SHOEBOX
New leader
As many of you know Cindy, Jean and myself
have been heavily involved in filling shoeboxes
for those in need for many years, first with
Operation Christmas Child and then during
Covid we moved to Rotary Shoeboxes.
We found there was a lot more support with
Rotary, the boxes were cheaper and we could
put in more variety of things. Boxes cost £2.50
each and that includes delivery and picking up.
We decided to do a Shoebox Launch Day
each year but fundraised all year
through the Garage Sale and
Charity Stalls at events. We
bought items for the shoe boxes
all year which we laid out at our
launch day.
People enjoyed coming to fill a box
knowing everything we had would go in a box.
We decided to step back this year, due to the
physical side. But we are pleased to announce
that one of our longest supporters is taking the
lead with the help of his Nan.
Don’t be fooled by his age – 11 years old – his
passion for the shoeboxes is so evident. He once
told me his best day of the year was Shoebox
Launch Day. He has helped at our mornings
where we make up stationary packs-he helped
do that at home through Covid.
Cindy and I will be supporting him in this
and we hope he has the opportunity to get the
boxes back into school.
Boxes will be available for people who want
to do their own. So Cindy and I have a new
boss and we are very excited to encourage and
support Leo and Kim.
I asked Leo a few questions about how he
feels about the boxes
1. When did you first start doing shoeboxes
and how old were you? I believe it was when
I was four in 2017 but I may have helped
when I was a bit younger but not too young.
2. At what age did you realise how important
they were to children with nothing? I don’t
actually know all I do know was it would’ve
been when I was much older and when I was
a lot more mature.
3. Describe how making up shoeboxes makes
you feel? Me personally I feel happy and
proud of myself when I do the shoe boxes
because I usually do 50+ each year so that
means I’ve helped 50 plus people all around
Europe which in doing so makes me happy.
4. Why do you feel it’s important for you to
take up the challenge to do them? So since
I’ve been doing this for around
seven years I know what we’ve
got to do. It is something I love to
do in Thrapston and it makes me
feel happy, plus without it many
children, teenagers and adults would
be struggling in this world.
5. In what direction would you like to take
them i.e into school ,more people to make
their own at home. At school I plan to get
some of my friends involved by just paying
£2.50 to fill up a box with toys, brushes and
more to help one person feel happier in this
world. If anyone wants to fill a box up at home
we can send them a box so they can fill it up
with donations then they can send it back to
us to make another one person happier.
Please continue your wonderful support of the
Shoeboxes– our Facebook page is still active.
Leo will need the same items we did – you
have always supported us – please do him.
When you shop add a few toothbrushes to
your order, rubbers, sharpeners, pens, pencils.
This is a young man with a passion and
commitment to helping children in need. We
are privileged to be supporting him as he carries
the project onwards.
God Bless, Lindsey
Do your children have one small good toy
they could donate?
Leo’s email is leo.thrapstonshoeboxes@gmail.
com or contact him via Facebook page
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