From Highlands with love – Blythswood Shoe Box gifts arrive in Ukraine
A big-hearted effort with its heart in the Highlands is spreading the love to people in need half a world away this Christmas.
Blythswood Care’s 2024 Shoe Box Appeal has resulted in more than 85,000 boxes being sent to eight countries in Eastern Europe.
Volunteers at Blythswood’s headquarters alone contributed 1242 hours, with teams at nine other sorting stations around the country showing similar levels of commitment.
Pupils, church congregations an others around Caithness were among those who donated to the cause this Christmas.
“We’re encouraged that the total is slightly up on last year,” said chief executive Jeremy Ross. “At a time when many families are struggling to pay the bills at home, it’s testimony to how generous people can be to those in greater need.”
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This year, more than a third of Blythswood’s boxes went to Ukraine, with five lorry-loads totalling over 31,000 boxes going to Ternopil, Kyiv, Uzhhorod and Odesa.
Jeremy Ross says: “The village of Partyzans’ke was occupied by Russians for several months. Less than 40 miles from currently occupied territory, there were shells in the road and homes were destroyed.
“Russians could come again. We delivered shoeboxes to families who had returned. It’s hard to imagine what the children there feel when they walk through their bullet-holed gates.”
Boxes have also been sent to Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania and Serbia. Each box is gift-wrapped and typically contains sweets, toiletries, stationery and small items of clothing, including a woolly hat.
Boxes are donated from all parts of the United Kingdom, from Shetland to Cornwall and from Antrim to Norfolk. The appeal depends heavily on volunteers to gather and process boxes, making sure that each one complies with export regulations.
“I want to thank everyone who filled a box and everyone who helped with the process,” Jeremy said. “Your kindness really does make a difference to people living in hardship.”