Shoebox Gifts Head to Displaced Ukrainian Children

For numerous children this year, the prospect of unwrapping a Christmas present on Christmas morning remains an aspiration rather than a reality. In Ukraine, a significant number of children continue to be displaced as a result of the ongoing conflict following the Russian invasion. Consequently, this Christmas is anticipated to be another challenging period for many young people and their families in the region. Nevertheless, children residing in Hampshire, Dorset, and the Isle of Wight have contributed to spreading festive joy by assembling shoeboxes filled with gifts. The Wessex Rotary Shoebox Scheme has been operational for the last two decades. Primary school pupils throughout Hampshire, Dorset, and The Isle of Wight are encouraged to contribute presents for children aged from one to fifteen. Participants are informed of the age ranges of the gift recipients and suggested items, including toys and games, colouring books, and winter hats. This year, a particular focus is placed on assisting children displaced within Ukraine, with 4,500 presents designated for shipment to the country. Susan Lewis, representing the Bransgore Rotary Club in the New Forest, stated: “[The presents] go through Poland and then onto a humanitarian convoy into Ukraine to go to the children that are displaced within their own country.” She added, “It’s lovely to feel that you’re actually giving something to children who have very little.” Bransgore Church of England Primary School is among the participating educational institutions in the south. Its acting head teacher, Nikki Pollitt, commented: “We have supported the Wessex Rotary shoe box scheme for probably the last 20 years.  “As a church school our core value is love and we talk a lot with the children about being a loving school, what that looks like and what that feels like. The children here are very aware that the shoeboxes are going to children less fortunate than themselves.” When questioned about the contents of their shoeboxes, student Lottie remarked: “I’ve put in some of my favourite toys, because I really like them and I think they’ll have fun with them.” Another student, Charlie, stated: “I’ve put in a woolly hat and some gloves for the cold, apparently when they see the shoebox they think its like gold almost.” Upon being filled and completed, the shoeboxes are dispatched to a dedicated packing centre located in Boscombe, Dorset. At this facility, thousands of boxes originating from the Wessex Rotary region, encompassing Hampshire, Dorset, The Isle of Wight, and the Channel Islands, are collected and categorized by age group before their onward journey to Poland. Once in Poland, these boxes are loaded onto a special humanitarian convoy that proceeds to Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine for distribution, aiming to bring joy to children. In the previous year, eighteen thousand shoeboxes were sent from the south of England, through Poland, to children in Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine. For updates, BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight can be followed on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.