Leitrim people asked to help marginalised children 

The 2023 Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal aims to deliver as many gift-filled shoeboxes as possible to children for whom poverty is their everyday reality and make smiles happen. 

Team Hope is calling on parents, children, teachers, families and communities to build a box at home or online to help them reach their goal of 200,000 shoeboxes this year. 

Every shoebox equals a smile on a child's face in 12 countries across Africa and Eastern Europe.

Team Hope invites those who want to join their campaign to find an empty shoebox, wrap it in Christmas paper and fill it with gifts for a boy or girl aged between 2 and 14; give online or attach a €5 donation and bring it to a local drop off point before the deadline of Friday, November 10. 

It is also possible to build a box online by donating at www.teamhope.ie, and one of Team Hope's local partners will build a box on your behalf on the ground and ensure it goes where it's needed most. 

Team Hope recommends while building your shoebox to think about the 4 W's: 

• WRITE - something to write with. For example, colouring pencils, pens, copy books;
• WASH - something to wash with. For example, a bar of soap and a face cloth;
• WEAR - something to wear. For example, a hat & scarf, socks, gloves; and
• WOW - something fun or a novelty. For example, a toy or treat. 

A special focus for the campaign is Team Hope Shoebox Week, which runs this year from November 4-10. For teachers, many class lesson plans and teaching resources are available online. 

Team Hope partner and drop-off point will sell flatpack shoeboxes in packs of three in their stores nationwide.