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A collection of shoebox donations organised by King Edward VI Five Ways[/caption]
For the past 20 years, Licia Tolley, Assistant Head at King Edward VI Five Ways School has been running the Christmas Shoe Box Appeal. For 19 of those years, the donations have been organised via Samaritans Purse Shoebox appeal, but this year the school decided to switch things up and move over to Teams4U.
"Every year we manage to put together between 200-250 Christmas boxes which are then sent overseas to eastern war-torn countries, particularly their orphanages," Licia explains. Usually launched around the October half term, each form group is allowed one form time per week dedicated to organising donations, wrapping the boxes and preparing for posting. "This year I started the appeal earlier to allow more time, particularly given the COVID-19 restrictions around shopping etc. This proved to be successful as we hit a record number of 412 boxes!"
Each form group aims to make up a minimum of six completed boxes with individual pupils and their families often being extremely generous in what they also carry out at home. Licia organises templates that are given to each form tutor, to ensure donations are not duplicated too many times, whilst also ensuring relevant materials are donated correctly. Practical supplies such as toothbrushes, soap, gloves and stationery are encouraged, as well as small gifts like travel games, bubbles or soft toys.
"Coordinating completed shoeboxes was a logistical feat in itself this year due to the year group bubbles and possible contamination of materials to consider, but we got there in the end."
The appeal runs as a competition, with the form group that makes up the most boxes receiving the annual Christmas Shoebox Trophy during the summer prizegiving in addition to lots of chocolate prizes for runner up groups. This year 7BM stole the show, but it was a close-run contest.
Licia comments: "A huge thank you must go to all of our fantastic students, form tutors and parents who are always so generous and amazing - I couldn't run the appeal without them".
A collection of shoebox donations organised by King Edward VI Five Ways[/caption]
For the past 20 years, Licia Tolley, Assistant Head at King Edward VI Five Ways School has been running the Christmas Shoe Box Appeal. For 19 of those years, the donations have been organised via Samaritans Purse Shoebox appeal, but this year the school decided to switch things up and move over to Teams4U.
"Every year we manage to put together between 200-250 Christmas boxes which are then sent overseas to eastern war-torn countries, particularly their orphanages," Licia explains. Usually launched around the October half term, each form group is allowed one form time per week dedicated to organising donations, wrapping the boxes and preparing for posting. "This year I started the appeal earlier to allow more time, particularly given the COVID-19 restrictions around shopping etc. This proved to be successful as we hit a record number of 412 boxes!"
Each form group aims to make up a minimum of six completed boxes with individual pupils and their families often being extremely generous in what they also carry out at home. Licia organises templates that are given to each form tutor, to ensure donations are not duplicated too many times, whilst also ensuring relevant materials are donated correctly. Practical supplies such as toothbrushes, soap, gloves and stationery are encouraged, as well as small gifts like travel games, bubbles or soft toys.
"Coordinating completed shoeboxes was a logistical feat in itself this year due to the year group bubbles and possible contamination of materials to consider, but we got there in the end."
The appeal runs as a competition, with the form group that makes up the most boxes receiving the annual Christmas Shoebox Trophy during the summer prizegiving in addition to lots of chocolate prizes for runner up groups. This year 7BM stole the show, but it was a close-run contest.
Licia comments: "A huge thank you must go to all of our fantastic students, form tutors and parents who are always so generous and amazing - I couldn't run the appeal without them". 
