A CHARITY which collects, sorts and ships out thousands of Christmas presents to children living in poverty is desperately in search of a Barrow warehouse for this year's appeal.

Boxes of Hope Cumbria needs a home in Barrow for around ten days in November to co-ordinate the local response to the annual drive to give Romanian children something special to open.
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This year's appeal will run from November 1 to 12, with residents encouraged to hand in shoeboxes filled with toys, games and school supplies at several drop-off points around the county.

Charity volunteers will then need use of a warehouse from November 12 to 22 at least to check the boxes and send them on their journey to eastern Europe.


Volunteers Keith Webster and Monica Pughy help to load the boxes during last year's appeal. JON GRANGER The sites the charity has previously used to carry out this work are not available and so the Barrow organisers are asking businesses to get in touch if they can help.

Rhona Teale, Barrow shoebox coordinator, said: "We haven't got a warehouse for this year yet. We hope someone will come forward to help.

"We need a small warehouse with room for a large truck to collect the cartons.

"We are expecting 4,000 shoeboxes and they are put in cartons. We usually have four to five tables to check the shoeboxes."

A total of 11,217 boxes were donated across Cumbria during last year's appeal, with 4,263 coming from Barrow.

Requirements for the warehouse include a toilet and electricity to boil a kettle, and volunteers are keen for businesses at industrial estates and parks with space to spare to support their campaign.

Schools, churches, youth groups, businesses and groups of friends play a huge part in the success of the appeal every year.

The shoeboxes are sometimes the only presents the selected children in Romania will receive at Christmas.


Barrow blue watch firefighters help out at the warehouse. JON GRANGER Details of where people in South Cumbria can drop off shoeboxes, together with the £2 donation for transport costs, will be released in autumn.

Anyone who is willing to offer warehouse space to the good cause can ring Mrs Teale on 07821849992 or email rhonagirlguidingcumbriasouth@hotmail.com

What you could put in your box

- Something fun - make sure to include a selection of toys and games for child to enjoy. Items like balls, cars, dolls, skipping ropes, and dominoes are great ideas.

- Something to use at school - notebooks, colouring book, pens, crayons, rulers and pencil sharpers are some items a Romanian child can use for learning at school or home.

- Something to wear - due to the cold winters clothes are good things to add to boxes. These could include hats, gloves, scarves, mittens and socks.

- Something sweet - sweets which have a use by date of at least March of next year can be added if wanted.

- Something to keep clean - soap, facecloths, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brushes, combs and hair accessories would make good additions to the box.

What you shouldn't put in your box

- Food (except for sweets)

- Medicines

- Aerosols

- Liquids like shampoo and shower gel

- Glass and other fragile and sharp items

- War related toys

- Novels

- Playdough and plasticine

- Loom bands