First ‘shoeboxes’ ready to be shipped out by Reuse Littleborough

Katie Lloyd and Jackie Barber with the boxes from Littleborough Community Primary School

The first of 400 plastic ‘shoeboxes’ collected by Reuse Littleborough are ready to be shipped out to Mwanza in the coming weeks.

The local charity launched the shoebox appeal in October, using plastic boxes instead of the traditional cardboard box - in keeping with their ethos of reusing every day items that would otherwise end up in the bin, waste is minimised whilst protecting the contents on a long journey.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/138/community-news/113640/reuse-littleborough-launches-christmas-shoebox-appeal

48 boxes have been filled and returned by Littleborough Community Primary School, containing toys, colouring books, stationery, toiletries and sweets.

Jackie Barber, chairwoman of the PTFA at the school, decided to become involved after previously helping out with Reuse Littleborough’s school uniform appeal earlier this year.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/138/community-news/111584/reuse-littleborough’s-school-uniform-appeal-is-huge-success

She said: “We used to do a shoebox appeal, but it was stopped for various reasons. We thought it would be nice to reinstate this and it took off from there.

“We sent out some flyers to parents: a few collected the boxes and some brought contents in for them. Katie Lloyd and Katy Warburton both helped fill the boxes.”

She added: “It has been a positive response and it is so wonderful for the children to give to someone else who will receive something to open.”

Reuse Littleborough’s ‘container of hope’ will be sent to Mwanza in January.