Hampstead Parish church has been supporting this project for several years, and last year we were able to send 105 shoe boxes containing useful and fun items to very needy children in Mozambique. These were despatched in early November, and arrived around Christmas time.
This year we are asked to pack boxes for distribution in Swaziland, the landlocked kingdom bordered by South Africa and Mozambique. I visited the capital, Mbabane, with my family in the 1970’s and was involved in a serious road accident. I will never forget the generosity and help that the local people gave then. However nowadays the country is in particularly difficult straits: exports of clothing and sugar have declined; 70% of the population are unemployed; approximately 39% of the population are HIV positive, and there are very many orphans. The average life expectancy is just under 32 years.
Samaritan’s Purse has built up a good distribution system in the country over the past five years, and the Christmas boxes have been most gratefully received. Parents have been delighted with hats, gloves and scarves for the children to wear in winter. The children have been thrilled to receive soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste to share with the family. Also stationary (paper, pens, pencils, sharpeners, rubbers, rulers) for use in school, and toys/games, e.g. balls, skipping rope, frisbee, playing cards, harmonica, yo-yo, toy cars, trucks or a doll/teddy. All items should be non-violent in nature, and toys should not resemble wild animals or snakes.
If you would like to take part, leaflets and other details are available on the charity’s website www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk or at the back of the church from mid-September. You may wish to join forces with others on this project.
The deadline for completion is Sunday, 18th November, when the boxes will be blessed by our clergy ahead of collection for shipping.
Shoe Box Appeal 2012
Rosemary Loyd