By Margaret Sheard…….

During a recent wardrobe clearout I ended up with 5 empty shoe boxes and although I had seen a Facebook request for these items I couldn’t remember which charity was asking for them and didn’t receive any response to my offer through Facebook.

I was so pleased therefore to note that St Andrew’s Church in Kyrenia were asking for old shoe boxes to be made up in Christmas fashion with goodies to be distributed to the Seamen’s Mission to go to those who cannot be at home with their loved ones during the festive season.  The request was for the boxes to contain such items as toiletries, sweets, biscuits etc. just leaving sufficient room for a mug and woolly hat to be included before distribution.

Chris and I came up with a list of what we thought would be nice to include and set about covering the shoe boxes with Christmas paper and then adding our purchases.   We delivered the 5 boxes we had made up to Rev’d Wendy Hough at The Hermitage today in plenty of time to be taken from Kyrenia on the 18^th December to be delivered to the Seamen’s Mission.

There is still time for anyone who would like to make up boxes for the seamen which will need to be available by Sunday 18^th December when the Chaplain to the Missions to Seafarers will be preaching at St Andrew’s Church and he will take back all the collected shoe boxes.

This is a lovely idea to bring a little joy to those far from home at Christmastime and we hope the recipients of our boxes enjoy them as much as we enjoyed making them up.

St Andrew’s are also collecting all  types of foodstuffs which will be distributed to the poor and needy during the Christmas period, so by donating some items of food etc,  this is something else which can be done to help others.   Donations should be either handed in at St Andrew’s Church or delivered to The Hermitage and anything will be gratefully received with thanks.

Season’s Greetings and a Happy New Year to one and all