Cork group coordinating shoebox donations makes urgent plea for warehouse space 

A North Cork group which sends shoeboxes containing Christmas gifts to children in need across the world has issued an urgent plea for temporary warehouse space.

The Fermoy Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal has been operational in the town for more than 20 years.

In that time, the group has packed thousands of shoeboxes with gifts and practical things to be sent to children in the world’s poorest countries.

Space provided in previous years is now unavailable and organisers say unless they can locate new accommodation in which to pack and store their boxes prior to dispatch, then hundreds of children may not receive their shoeboxes this year.

In addition, local school children, who each year help to fill the shoeboxes, could this year miss a chance to give to those with less.

António Silva, a long-time volunteer with the Team Hope Shoebox Appeal in Fermoy, said the group had been asking around and doing its best to locate a new space.

“It’s so heart-warming and important every year for children in our schools here in Fermoy to provide their own shoeboxes which will be opened by children living in difficult circumstances in countries such as Rwanda, Ukraine, Kosovo, Burundi, Malawi and elsewhere,” he said.

“They can bring the widest smile to a young face and offer hope.” 

But with time running out, the Fermoy group needs to find space in which to work if it is to deliver this Christmas.

“We just hope there is someone out there who can help – perhaps a business, building contractor or a church or community hall. We just need a ground floor space of approximately 2,000-plus square feet which can be accessible by a HGV.

“We’d need it from the middle of October until the second week in December – just six weeks,” said Mr Silva.

As Team Hope is a charity, they would require that the space be offered without charge. 

The group has its own full liability insurance.

They are asking anyone who can help to contact them as soon as possible. Email AJF.Da.Silva@hotmail.com or call 086 0630225.