Debbie has put plenty of smiles in these shoeboxes
A TWYFORD resident is feeling “humbled” by coordinating the village response to the Ukraine crisis.
Last week, 529 “shoeboxes of smiles” began a journey to Lviv and Riven, in the west of the war-torn nation.
Debbie Martin and her friend Mike Pearson drove the boxes to Bigjigs Toys in Folkstone on Monday, March 21. The owners of the family-run wooden toy company have turned their premises into a drop-off centre for donations.
“Mike has taken all my collections so far to drop-off points, and Caversham Vehicle Hire kindly lent us the van for this trip for free,” Ms Martin said.
“Twyford’s boxes were on the eighth lorry of 10 to leave Bigjigs for Ukraine last week.”
Ms Martin’s focus changed from collecting kit such as sleeping bags soon after speaking to Wokingham. Today in early March.
During her original appeal, two shoeboxes filled with items including colouring pencils and toiletries were delivered to her doorstep.
“The idea to collect shoeboxes of smiles, filled with essentials and treats for both children and adults who have lost everything, grew from those two boxes,” Ms Martin explained.
“The response in the area has been fantastic, schools and youth groups have got involved too.
“I’ve been gobsmacked and humbled by how generous people have been, and all the kindness of the people I have met while doing this.”
Her day at Bigjigs sorting the donations was “overwhelming.”
She said: “It’s been a very emotional journey, thinking about what people who have had to leave their homes with nothing are going through.”
“But I believe that you should treat other how you want to be treated.”
Ms Martin is coordinating with two groups in Kent to send another lorry of shoeboxes to Ukraine.
The deadline for donations is Friday, April 15.
Details can be found on the Twyford, Hurst and Charvil Facebook community groups.