A young woman from the Yate congregation, near Cheltenham, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has single-handedly organised the collection of shoeboxes filled with Christmas goodies for distribution by the Trussell Trust. Each Christmas, the Trust sends shoeboxes filled with presents and essential items to some of the poorest refugees in Eastern Europe. In 2015, they distributed 10,078 shoe boxes to poor and marginalised children and families in Bulgaria and Serbia.
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With the help of work colleagues at the Ministry of Defence, family, friends, and members of her congregation, Susie Biggs, 19, was able to fill 141 boxes. She was also successful in persuading a small business to donate £250 towards the cost of transporting the boxes to Bulgaria.
Susie said, “When I was at school, I enjoyed preparing shoeboxes for the appeals. I loved to choose what to put in the shoeboxes and imagine the reaction of the person who would open it. This year I wanted to see how many I could do. I was overwhelmed by people’s generosity. Our local shopkeepers have been really helpful in providing empty shoe boxes, and discounting items to help fill them. Local residents gave me money, bought items, and one lady from Hereford even hand-made toys and fishing kits, all to fill the shoe boxes.”