A Sheffield organisation has encouraged residents to ‘take a shoebox, wrap it in festive paper and fill it with Christmas treats’ ahead of their donation deadline.
Sheffield shoebox appeal, which has been running for ten years, has extended their deadline for collections to Tuesday 28 November due to receiving less donations than usual.
Their donations contrast with usual shoebox appeals as the donations are given to adults experiencing homelessness and the ‘self-isolated’ elderly.
Christine Sexton, a coordinator of Sheffield Shoebox said: “Donations are very low. I know from looking at the numbers that we are 1000 boxes down from where we were this time last year.
“We understand the cost of living crisis and everybody is struggling.
“People who might have spent £10 making a box up maybe can’t afford to do it this year and we absolutely get that.”
After a successful year last year, the appeal raised their target from 2600 to 2800 donated shoe boxes, but they are unsure whether it will be possible to reach this in the short amount of time left of the collection.
They recommend donating ‘practical things’, such as warm hats and gloves, or books and games to make their life a bit better on Christmas Day.
Ms Sexton expressed how easy it is to contribute to the appeal and that the organisers will appreciate donations of any kind, including loose items.
She said: “I had a lady yesterday who picked up a load of empty boxes and took them down her street and gave a box to every neighbour.
“I thought that was a brilliant idea.
“If people have got say 20 or 30 boxes that they want us to collect, they can send us a direct message on twitter or facebook and we will come and collect them, so we try and make it as easy as we can for people to donate. “
Sheffield Shoebox Appeal has 25 drop-off points across the city centre, as well as a central drop-off point on Glossop Road, where people can take their donations.
They donate to an abundance of Sheffield-based charities, including The Archer Project and Ben’s Centre for the homeless, YWCA, Women’s Aid and Salvation Army for residential care and a range of elderly support charities.
Ms Sexton added: “I know times are hard and we understand why we’re low but if anyone can afford to give anything, a filled box would be wonderful.
“What worries me is that we’ve got a hostel with 50 men and we can’t give them 50 boxes. It’s terrible but anything people can do would be appreciated so much.”
To find out more information about how to donate, click here.
