Team Hope Shoebox Collection (Holly Devitt)

TEAM HOPE is an Irish, interdenominational Christian development aid charity working with children,  and through them,  their families and communities in Eastern Europe, former Soviet Union and Africa. Best known for their annual Christmas Shoebox Appeal, they also help children all year round through a variety of community development projects.

Team Hope receives approximately 170,000 to 180,000 shoe boxes from the Irish public each year. This year however, Team Hope has set out to try and generate an extra 20,000 shoe boxes to cater for the Syrian refugees. Hearing this, it inspired me to try and contribute as closely as I could to that number.

Over the Halloween break the first years (and a few of my sixth year friends) kindly made-up 70 shoe boxes for Team Hope. After collecting all the shoe boxes I delivered them to the local drop off site. Team Hope representatives where overwhelmed with the generosity of the students and were extremely grateful for their contribution. Carrying each shoebox into the warehouse and watching them slowly pile up, I felt so proud of what we had achieved.

I would like to thank Mrs. Irwin for all her help and support in organising the project, and of course to everyone who contributed in the making of a shoe box, your generosity, I'm sure, will be greatly appreciated by those who will receive your beautiful boxes.