MSP puts up motion praising charity

A HIGHLAND MSP has applauded the efforts of Christian charity Blythswood Care after the organisation’s shoe box appeal passed the two million milestone.

Kate Forbes MSP put up a parliamentary motion at Holyrood welcoming the news, which has been backed by more than 20 MSPs from various parties.

Thousands of people across Scotland have contributed gifts to Blythswood Care’s annual shoe box appeal since the scheme launched back in 1993.

It was recently announced that a 10-year- old boy with special needs, living in a village in Romania, had become the two-millionth person to receive a gift box from the appeal.

This year the shoe boxes have also reached needy people in Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine and Pakistan.

Ms Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said: ‘Although born and based in the Highlands, Blythswood Care has had a far-reaching impact across the world.’

Blythswood Care chief executive James Campbell added: ‘I have seen how happy these boxes make the people who receive them.

‘They are so surprised to receive a present from someone who doesn’t even know them.

‘It amazes me that each year so many people put such care into preparing the shoe boxes for us to distribute to people in great need.’