Shoebox Appeal 2026 Launched
Children in Distress is appealing for individuals, groups and workplaces to get involved with its annual campaign to send shoeboxes filled with Christmas gifts to Romania.
Whilst it might feel early to be thinking about Santa, the annual appeal is the biggest in the small charity’s calendar, involving hundreds of hours of volunteer and staff time to coordinate in the months leading up to Christmas.
Every year for over 35 years, people and groups of all ages and sizes have lovingly packed shoeboxes filled with thoughtful gifts, bringing smiles and joy to those who have little. What started out as gifts for children in Romanian orphanages has since become an annual tradition and an important part of the charity’s history. Over 5,000 filled shoeboxes were distributed in Bucharest and nearby areas last Christmas to children, teenagers and older adults in need. The recipients include schools, churches, residential care centres, community projects and the children at Casa Maria, a home for children with severe disabilities and complex needs that the charity grant funds.
The shoeboxes are collected and stored in a warehouse kindly provided by haulage and warehousing company Prestons of Potto, where they are carefully checked before being loaded into vans. A lorry then arrives from Romania in December to transport them to their new homes. Charity staff travel with the gifts from York to Romania to bring smiles and festive cheer to all the places visited.
The charity produces a useful guide to how to pack a shoebox and what gifts to include - which range from handmade baby hats, mittens and socks, to colouring and sticker books, fleece blankets, sweet treats, chocolate and hot drink sachets. They can be filled by individuals or by groups, with many school, church, workplace and community groups getting together to source gifts and pack shoeboxes – making it a wonderful social inclusion activity. Donations to support the appeal are also welcomed even if people cannot pack a shoebox themselves.
With roots stretching back to 1990, Children in Distress has significant expertise working with children, young people and communities in both Romania and the UK. The charity has recently supported local communities in Yorkshire to thrive by funding projects for the Romanian diaspora in Hull. These include a Romanian language school and cookery project where children can learn about their heritage and traditions.
Simon Errington, the York-based CEO of Children in Distress said:
“Our shoebox appeal stretches right back to our foundation as a charity when my father and others set out to help children suffering from HIV and Aids in Romanian orphanages. Whilst our work as a charity is much broader today and we have brought our expertise and knowledge from Romania to also helping young people and communities here in the UK, we’re proud to continue this annual tradition. It’s a vital thread building connections between people here in Yorkshire and Romania. There is nothing so heart-warming as seeing the happiness it brings as we spread a little love every Christmas to those who need it most.”
More information about the charity and how to get involved with the shoebox appeal can be found at: https://www.childrenindistress.org/get-involved/shoebox-appeal/
There are also opportunities for local businesses to get involved through filling shoeboxes and sponsorship. Please contact us for more information and if you have any questions about how to support the appeal.