Shoebox gifts for area's homeless

The Mansfield Homeless Christmas Shoebox Appeal. asks for people to donate items to the area’s homeless people.

Boxes can include items such as gloves, socks, toothpaste and toothbrush, toiletries, sweets, biscuits, chocolate, drink sachets, cup a soups and other foods.

People have also been asked to include a Christmas card to spread some festive cheer.

Stuart Brown, a volunteer for Mansfield Homeless Christmas Shoebox Appeal, said: “Every Christmas, homeless people not only have to deal with the fact that they are homeless as well as other issues, but also have to deal with the “happy” part of the year, sometimes alone.

“We encourage people to give a small gift and a bit of hope to a homeless person in Mansfield and the surrounding areas.”

This year, the organisation have also asked people to package up present boxes for pets.

The boxes could include tinned food, food and water bowls, fleece blanket, lead or collar, toys, treats, poo bags, flea treatment and worming pills.

Stuart added: “Some homeless people have dogs so we also want to provide some doggy boxes for them this Christmas.”

Shoeboxes have so far been supplied by Beales, Clarks in Mansfield and Clarks at McArthur Glen.

Empty boxes are available from Tesco’s Oak Tree customer service desk which is also the drop off point for filled shoeboxes until November 25.

Stuart recently collected some of the filled shoeboxes from the store.

Mark, the store manager at Tesco said: “As usual our customers and colleagues have generously responded to this good cause.”

Stuart said: “I would like to thank everybody who has supported this appeal which will help local homeless people at Christmas.”

For more information visit www.facebook.com/mansfieldhomelessshoeboxappeal or email [email protected]