Warehouse Flooded.....by Shoeboxes

Today in the warehouse shoeboxes continued to come in from the whole GU area. Thankfully we were once again supported by all our wonderful volunteers, who work very hard to check the boxes that just seem to keep coming in. Always time for a photo opportunity too of course, here is the GU area "workers' wave".

It's a fantastic atmosphere in the warehouse, people from many walks of life working together for one cause and really enjoying what they do.



It brings joy to us all to see just some of the special things that people have put into boxes. Our volunteers have to check boxes to ensure that they are fair for each child and that they conform to customs' and country regulations.

 Firstly there are the boxes themselves, some beautifully hand-decorated. Here are some wrapped in plain paper but look at all those stickers! They do the job of transforming the boxes into ones that no child could resist.






Some with letters, notes or drawings in them. Some children even want to send photos of themselves.  Some want to tell the child who will receive the box a bit about their life, school and family here in England.
This letter says "Deire frened I have gave this to you because I want you to be my frened I hope you like it I am 8 yeres oled love Sacha". 







Some want to draw a picture. Some even tell them what they look like and to be certain to get the message through draw a picture of themself. This one says:
"Dear Friend I hope you like the box of gifts, I really enjoyed choosing them. I am 9. I have brown hair and blue eyes. I have lots of freckles. I love climbing trees and playing with my friends. Happy christmas! Love Bethany".

On the back of Bethany's letter she has drawn a picture of herself...freckles included!

 Others just want to send love and kindness, knowing that they have a friend whom they may never meet but still want to share some joy with.

Yesterday we heard about the new Ted who will have a Russian name. Let's introduce him. Here is Margaret (holding Ted) and Yvonne. Yvonne came to the warehouse for the first time this year but promises to come back.







Also promising to come back next year are Sharon, Charmaine, Marj and Kim, all from Lakeside Primary School. They have been every Monday and this week brought with them 38 boxes. They want the the whole school involved in making shoeboxes next year, well done and thanks to them all.












After a flurry of visitors yesterday we had a relatively quiet day by having only one group in. This was Haslemere Preparatory School. They also brought in boxes and we gave them a tour, showing them what happens to their boxes and where they go.







As usual they were keen to help and whilst they were a little young to check boxes, they were still very keen to unload their mini bus, look inside the boxes and carry the checked boxes over to Gerard and his team for packing.



Another good job done.