Arran rallies to Christmas shoebox appeal
More than 118 Blythswood Care Christmas shoeboxes left the island this week on the first leg of their journey over land and sea to countries in Eastern Europe.
There they will be given as Christmas gifts to needy men, women and children who have so very little.
As well as warm hats, scarves and gloves, the boxes contain items that many people who have so much take for granted, like a cake of soap, a new toothbrush or a bottle of shampoo.
These simple things mean a great deal to people living in poverty.
Blythswood Care is a Christian charity which was set up more than 25 years ago with a mission to transform lives through education, community action and gospel activities.
As well as running the Christmas Shoebox Appeal, it has a number of charity shops throughout the country.
St Bride’s Church in Brodick has been a collecting and checking point for the shoebox appeal for more than 20 years and, although this has proved to be a challenging year, it has been delighted by the response it has received from people all over the island.
Thanks go to everyone who has helped this year from the ladies who knitted, to those who collected and wrapped boxes, checked full boxes or filled boxes with the many individual items donated by supporters.
The charity is also enormously grateful to everyone who filled a box as well as those who donated cash. More than £813 was collected which will help towards transport costs.
A big thank you goes to Susan Dobson for all her hard work which included, with the help of her husband Alastair, taking the boxes to the mainland.
A final word to any knitters out there who may be looking for something to keep them occupied over the winter months.
Why don’t you start knitting for next year’s appeal? Thank you.