The Shoebox Project for Women in Campbell River will once again be accepting donations of shoeboxes filled with personal items at their three drop-off locations from until Dec. 4. The shoeboxes will be given out in time for the holidays to women who have accessed shelter or outreach services over the past year in the Campbell River area.
The Shoebox Project for Shelters, is a charitable initiative that seeks to brighten the day of women in need in our community and to provide an easy way for Canadians to give back and make a difference.
This is the third year of the initiative here in Campbell River – where more than 230 shoeboxes were delivered to women in the community last year.
Shoebox coordinators Alison Skrepneck and Linda Carlson are asking members of the community to fill shoeboxes with personal items that a woman might like – little luxuries that a woman would enjoy but may not have access to or the means to purchase for herself in times of difficulty.
The small gesture of filling a shoebox, decorating it and including an inspirational card has a big impact on the woman who receives it.
Making a box valuing about $50 is easy and can be done alone, with family, friends or other group.
Suggested items include body or hand lotions, makeup – such as mascara, lipstick and nail polish – chocolates, cookies or candies, toothpaste, toothbrush or floss, shampoo, conditioner, a brush or comb, mitts, hats or scarves, gift cards, or even movie or pool passes.
Shoeboxes should be decorated with pretty holiday paper, a bow or ribbon, but with the lid wrapped separately, as they must be opened for inspection before they can be distributed.
Once filled, the decorated shoeboxes can be taken to one of the drop-off locations in Campbell River from until Dec. 4.
Those locations are Coastal Community Credit Union in Discovery Harbour, Serendipity in the Garden on Shoppers Row and Sundance Java Bar in Sunrise Square in Willow Point.
Donations to the Shoebox Project are also accepted at shoeboxproject.com. Tax receipts will be issued for any donation over $10.
The Shoebox Project is a charitable initiative that delivers shoeboxes to women who are homeless for any reason and believes that a small gesture can make a big difference. It was founded in Toronto by four sisters-in-law in 2011 and now operates in 32 cities across Canada.
In 2014, shoeboxes were delivered to 17,000 women in shelters and outreach programs across the country.
Visit shoeboxproject.com for more information about the initiative and look for the Campbell River page, head over and like them on Facebook or call Skrepneck at 250-203-9360 or Carlson at 250-202-5039.