Paying it forward at Christmas
The Taupo Shoebox appeal is in full swing. Matt Shand reports. ‘‘I have noticed a lot more children going to school with no shoes on and sometimes not even a lunch box’’ Tracy Livingstone.
Christmas can be a joyous time of a year, but it can also be stressful for families doing it tough.
Siena-Roze Shelford is doing what she can to help by donating to the Taupo Shoebox Appeal.
By placing toys, books, games, puzzles and clothes into a shoebox Siena-Roze will be creating a special gift for a young boy or girl that might be going without such a merry Christmas this year.
The appeal has been organised by Tracy Livingstone for the last three years, and she says demand for the service is always increasing.
‘‘Living costs are going up in town and living is becoming more unaffordable,’’ she said.
‘‘I have noticed a lot more children going to school with no shoes on and sometimes not even a lunch box.
‘‘More and more children are going to breakfast clubs this year and times are hard.
‘‘The goal of the charity is just to make a whole lot more children happy at Christmas.’’
Making a shoe box is easy to do and Livingstone said it can be a fun activity for children to do ahead of Christmas.
‘‘They are quite easy to make and do not cost a lot to do,’’ she said.
‘‘I went to the Warehouse to fill one of the boxes and you can get a good box of new toys, books and clothes for $20.
‘‘We also take donated toys. Maybe ones that the children no longer want to play with.’’
‘‘They might not look big in a shoebox but some kid is going to have a great time opening that present.’’
Livingstone said they will take shoeboxes for children aged between 0-10 years old.
‘‘All people have to do is make up a shoebox, wrap it up and let us know what age and gender it is appropriate for,’’ she said.
‘‘People can also let us know who might be in need of receiving a shoebox for Christmas so we can make sure we have made enough.’’
Donations can be arranged by visiting the Taupo Shoebox Appeal 2016 Facebook page or can be dropped off at Bailey Quinns Styling at 26 Spa Road until December 10.
‘‘We have already had lots of donations which is great,’’ Livingstone said.
‘‘Some people donate old toys, but some people buy bulk toys, balls and ballons and other things that we can break down to put in all the shoeboxes.
‘‘It’s amazing how many toys you can buy that can be gifts for lots of children.’’