Sunday 16 October

What are you hoping to find wrapped up under the tree on Christmas morning? A games console or iPad or mobile phone or maybe all of them? Would that bring a smile to your face?

But what if all you found was some toothpaste or soap perhaps? Or maybe a notebook and a pencil? What about a packet of sweets? Or a woolly hat? Would that bring a smile to your face?

It would to many Eastern Europeans in Romania, Moldova, Albania and Ukraine who endure levels of poverty which have not been seen in this country since the 1920's. So be part of our Shoe Box Appeal and help us send shoe boxes full of smiles to families in desperate need in Eastern Europe.

The aim of the Shoebox appeal is to provide destitute families with a gift at Christmas. Simple items such as toiletries, small tools, toys and other goodies are packed in an empty shoe box which is gift wrapped and shipped to a number of Eastern European countries for distribution to poor and needy families. These gifts may not seem much to us, but to the families that receive them they are a great encouragement, providing a little bit of "luxury" in their hard lives. It is difficult for us to comprehend the joy these gifts bring, but the smiles on their faces and obvious delight speak volumes to all involved with this work. If you're not convinced, take a look at Link Romania's promotional video:

For more than 10 years Christians from Wantage and Grove have contributed time, materials and money to support the Link Romania Christmas Shoebox appeal which in 2010 sent 45,379 shoe boxes. Last year members and friends of Grove Free Evangelical Church packed over 100 shoe boxes for Link Romania (the UK based charity organising this project). Then we thought, "what if every family in Grove sent a shoe box?". So our target this year is 1000 shoe boxes, and we are inviting people from our local community to Old Mill Hall, School Lane, Grove, OX12 7LB on Sunday 16th October, to bring small gifts, empty shoeboxes and a concern for the poor this Christmas.

To make this happen we need support from people like you:

• Get involved yourself - put together a shoe box from your family.
• Get friends in your club, school, office or street involved - see if you can pack more shoe boxes than anyone else.
• If you are a local business consider buying or donating from stock some of the items we need.
• Tell others about how they can get involved - share this article on facebook or twitter.

To find out how you can help, download shoebox information or contact the GFEC Shoebox Appeal team by email: .

Attachments:

ShoeboxAppeal2011ResponseForm.pdf	[Response Form]	93 Kb
ShoeboxAppeal2011Letter.pdf	[Letter]	48 Kb
GFEC-Shoebox2011-A4-Poster.pdf	[Poster for printing on A4 or A3 paper]	3740 Kb
GFEC-Shoebox2011-A4-Poster.png	[Poster for inclusion in newsletters]	4441 Kb
GFEC-Shoebox2011-A5Flyer2-up.jpg	[A5 Flyer (2 on A4 Page)]	1229 Kb
GFEC-Shoebox2011-A5Flyer2-up.pdf	[A5 Flyer (2 on A4 Page)]	2030 Kb
SheoboxAppeal2011Leaflet.pdf	[Leaflet]	357 Kb
SheoboxAppeal2011ShoppingList.pdf	[Shopping List]	66 Kb