By Fiona Baxter
Once again, the Parish of High Ongar with Norton Mandeville will be collecting for Link to Hope`s appeal for shoeboxes for the poorest families in Eastern Europe. We will be assembling our gifts after a service in St Mary’s Church in High Ongar from 10.30am onwards on Sunday 3rd of November – so lots of time to get ready to join in!
Link to Hope is a registered charity and they have been running a shoebox appeal since 1992. In that time more than 1 million shoeboxes have gone from a household in this country to another living in poverty in either Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria or Ukraine.
It’s a simple but effective idea. Any one can participate either by filling a shoebox with gifts for a family or an elderly couple or alternatively donating an item to be consolidated with other gifts on the day. The gifts we are particularly appealing for in 2024 are toiletries, stationary, soft toys or hats – and of course empty size 6/7 shoeboxes themselves. Got something else you would like to donate? Just bring it along.
We hope to see you at the service or if you can’t make it, you can deliver your gift to St Mary’s any Sunday when the church is open from 10.30am – noon.
Parish of High Ongar 