Members of Yeovil Rotary Club were delighted to receive 50 Rotary Charity Shoeboxes from Jones Building Group – one of the leading southwest construction, social housing, building maintenance and facilities management companies.
The boxes are filled with a variety of toys, treats and gifts and the club are now working on getting them delivered to orphaned children, teenagers and disadvantaged families in Central and Eastern Europe in time for Christmas.
Established in 1994, the Rotary Shoebox Scheme was originally set up to provide children of Iasi in north-east Romania with Christmas gifts.
To purchase and fill 50 shoeboxes in just a few weeks is an impressive call to action and we thank everyone involved at Jones Building Group for stepping up to the challenge.”
Since then, it has become a national project supported not only by Rotary clubs but individuals, schools, companies and other volunteer organisations.
Wishing to do something to help those not so fortunate at Christmas, Community Liaison Officer for the Jones Building Group Josie Bowden, reached out to the Rotary Club of Yeovil to ask if there was a project her company could support:
“We were looking for a Christmas project that staff in our Exeter, Portishead and Yeovil offices could get involved with.
“We felt that given the global situation over the past 20 months, it was more important than ever to do something for those whose circumstances don’t allow them to enjoy this time of year in the same way that we can.
“As usual, our teams rose to the challenge and we were able to fill – in most cases to the brim – a grand total of 50 Shoeboxes with toys and gifts for families and children of all ages.
It’s great to think that these will be opened at Christmas and we hope it will spread a little joy to those who receive them.”
We felt that given the global situation over the past 20 months, it was more important than ever to do something for those whose circumstances don’t allow them to enjoy this time of year in the same way that we can.”
Yeovil Rotary Club’s Brian Murray, who coordinated the supply and collection of the boxes, was impressed with the efforts and generosity of the Jones Building Group staff and said: “To purchase and fill 50 shoeboxes in just a few weeks is an impressive call to action and we thank everyone involved at Jones Building Group for stepping up to the challenge.
“This is exactly what it’s all about for our Club and the Rotary organisation as a whole; to bring together individuals, companies and organisations in the community to help those who are unable to help themselves.”
Click here to find out more about Jones Building Group or here to learn more about the Rotary Shoebox Scheme.
