Can you help this year's Blythswood Care Shoe Box Appeal

And businesses are also being invited to lend a hand by donating items which will help support the Blythswood Care Shoe Box Appeal.

Thomas Turner is teaming up with his wife Candace for the second year running to help organise the event, which involves volunteers in Fullarton Church in Irvine packing shoe boxes full of vital items donated from across the community for delivery to Moldova.

This is his 10th year being involved and the event gets underway in earnest with a packing session next Tuesday, October 31.

Packing sessions for the Fullarton appeal will run from Tuesday to Saturday each week, between 10am and 5pm; and also on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 6pm until 9pm.

Thomas said: “Other churches, nursing homes and community centres throughout Ayrshire will be helping to supply shoe boxes and if we can pack around 7,000 of them, that means we will have enough to put on an articulated lorry and send directly from Irvine. 

“The church might be mobbed on Saturdays or Wednesdays but Thursday afternoons could be quieter if some people wanted to help then. The more people we have, the merrier.

“People are not committed to being there for a full day if they want to do two hours a couple of times a week then that’s fine.

“Up to 40 packers could be in at the one time and others will fill the boxes in the back room.”
The shoe boxes should contain a toothbrush and toothpaste, hat, scarf and gloves, underwear, socks, tights and sweets.

Thomas is hoping this year that, as well as support from people who are asked to help fill shoe boxes with essential items, businesses can also lend a hand.

He said: “We would welcome support from businesses, including the likes of supermarkets, who could donate extra items for boxes including notepads, pencils, sweets and say dentists could donate toothbrushes and toothpaste.”

People who can help should email Thomas or Candace at tcshoebox@gmail.com.