21 December, 2023
Students and staff Ormiston Venture Academy are celebrating the gift of giving this Christmas season with the launch of this year’s Shoebox Appeal.
Children at the Gorleston academy have been busy packing items ready to provide some Christmas cheer for less fortunate young people in Eastern Europe, Africa and as far away as Haiti.
As part of The Samaritans Purse ‘Operation Christmas Child’, the children have created shoe boxes full of gifts to be delivered to countries with children living in poverty as a Christmas present as parting of spreading festive joy.
The shoebox gifts also provide a connection between different cultures, backgrounds and nationalities and bridges the gap between someone who has something to give, and someone who can’t wait to receive it.
Over one million shoeboxes sent out from the UK and Ireland last year, and 5,000 UK volunteers will help to prepare the shoeboxes for delivery, with fourteen different countries receiving these valued gifts in 2023. An incredible 41 shoeboxes were packed across the academy and delivered to the local drop off point.
The students were delighted to be involved in something so interesting that will bring so much joy to so many young people in parts of the world they may never visit.
Sara, one student at the academy said: “My personalised learning tutor showed us all a video on about the shoebox appeal and it is amazing that we can help others so far away, so easily.”
Mr Doggett, director of personal development at the academy and organiser of the shoebox appeal at Venture said: “It is great to see so many students and staff involved in this each year. We build on it annually and students are keen to help those less fortunate than themselves. Parents have also been very helpful again, purchasing gifts and donating items to go into the shoeboxes. We beat last year’s total number of boxes, so the academy is delighted.”
Category: News
Tags: Christmas, Ormiston Venture Academy, Shoebox appeal, The Samaritans
