International Rugby Player Josh van der Flier is hoping to spread a little hope this Christmas.

Team Hope shoebox appeal returns

International Rugby Player Josh van der Flier lined out to officially launch the 2021 Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal. Together, Josh and Team Hope are calling on friends, family, schools and communities across Cavan to donate gift-filled shoeboxes for children affected by poverty in Eastern Europe and Africa this Christmas.

The theme for this year’s Appeal is #MakeAChildSmile and aims to encourage people to think about the single impact, joy and smile that a shoebox brings to the child who receives it.

Hazel Speares, Cavan Christmas Shoebox Appeal Team Coordinator said: “We are delighted that we have been able to safely return to normal operations for the Christmas Shoebox Appeal this year. The people of Cavan have always been great supporters of the appeal and we need all that support to make as many children as possible smile this Christmas. We can only do it, if we do it together.”

Shoebox Appeal Ambassador Josh van der Flier said: “My earliest memory of the Christmas Shoebox Appeal was doing it in primary school. It was always very exciting because, even as a child, you really felt like you could make a difference. Like so many children, all I knew was Christmas filled with excitement and joy, and it was really hard to imagine that other children wouldn’t experience it in quite the same way. I hope that schools and families around Ireland will join me to raise as many shoeboxes (and smiles!) as possible.”

Christmas Shoebox Appeal Malawi

Spot the Kellogg's GAA shirt! Make chldren smile this Christmas by donating a Christmas Shoebox and dropping it off by November 8th :D More info at https://www.teamhope.ie/christmas-shoebox-appeal/

Posted by Team Hope on Wednesday, 6 October 2021

All you have to do is find an empty shoebox, wrap it in Christmas paper and fill it with gifts for a boy or girl aged between two and 14 years, give online or attach a €4 donation and bring it to a local drop-off point before the deadline of Monday, November 8 – or you can build-a-box online by donating online at International Rugby Player Josh van der Flier

When considering best items to gift, think of the four Ws:

Wear - Gloves, hat, scarf, socks, top, underwear

Wash – Comb, soap, sponge, toothbrush and toothpaste, washcloth

Write – Colouring pencils, notepad, writing accessories

Wow – Fun trinkets, musical toys, puzzles, soft toy, ball, fun sunglasses

Every shoebox and online donation will allow Team Hope to deliver your shoebox with love and care directly into the hands of a child affected by poverty in countries across Eastern Europe and Africa.

Team Hope’s aim in 2021 is to deliver as many shoeboxes as possible to children in Romania, Transnistria (Moldova), Ukraine, Kosova, Albania, Belarus, Burundi, Democratic Republic Congo, Lesotho, eSwatini (Swaziland), Malawi, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Rwanda as every shoebox counts.

For more information about the Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal, please visit www.teamhope.ie

Follow Team Hope on usual social media channels.