Christmas Shoe Box Appeal:

It was wonderful to welcome Mrs Rothwell today as part of her role at New Life Church in New Milton. She led our Family Assembly around the Christmas Shoebox Appeal for Operation Christmas Child and Samaritan’s Purse.

To take part, families are invited to fill a shoebox with Christmas gifts for children around the world who might otherwise receive very little at Christmas. Last year, we sent over 40 shoeboxes around the world and even tracked one on its journey, which ended up in Asia!

Our Sanctuary Ambassadors also visited the New Milton depot to help sort and organise boxes donated from across the New Forest area. It was great fun and wonderful to see just how many shoeboxes had been filled by families across the Forest.

This appeal links particularly well with several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 1: No Poverty encourages us to think about children and families who may not have access to the same resources as we do. Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities reminds us of the importance of supporting others and helping to create a fairer world, while Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals is reflected in the way families, schools, churches, volunteers and charities work together to make the appeal possible.

It also connects strongly with Catholic Social Teaching.  The appeal reflects Human Dignity, recognising the value and worth of every child; Solidarity, by standing alongside others across the world; and the Common Good, through working together to bring joy and support to those in need.

If your family would like to join in this year, please look out for a flyer coming home soon and return your shoebox to school by Monday 9 November.

You can find out more information at:

https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child