Generous Irish members of the independent buying group Toymaster took part in Team Hope’s 2023 Christmas Shoebox Appeal, which sends boxes of toys and gifts to kids across the world.

Toymaster has received feedback from Team Hope – an Irish, Christian and child-focused international development organisation – regarding the 2023 Shoebox Appeal carried out in the Island of Ireland. Team Hope’s Christmas Shoebox Appeal is an annual campaign that delivers gifts straight into the hands of children affected by poverty. Since 2010, Team Hope has delivered over 2.5m shoebox gifts to vulnerable children across the world.

The update reads: “Thanks to your outstanding donations we were able to send 176,615 shoebox gifts to children in 12 countries across Eastern Europe and Africa as part of the 2023 Christmas Shoebox Appeal. For many of these children, this is the only gift they will have received this Christmas (or in their lives before). We know every box contains cherished items that can transform a child’s life; a scarf and woolly hat can keep the cold at bay or a simple pen and notebook could be the passport that a child needs to be able to start their journey through the education system.”

“Through the giving of a shoebox our Partners can also identify other needs and provide help. Your kindness spreads to the families and communities and the ripple effect you start with your shoebox gift can never be under-estimated.”

Toymaster members from across Ireland donated toys and kids’ gifts to the appeal, which went into the specially curated boxes ready for distribution across the globe to children such as Laura from Albania. According to Team Hope, Laura “loved all of the gifts so much and was showing everyone her presents. She couldn’t wait to go home and play with the new toys and use everything that was in her shoebox.”

Simon in Burundi, meanwhile, felt that “each item in his Christmas Shoebox was of such great importance to him. He especially loved his sunglasses which he immediately tried on and kept on his head. He also said he loved the sweets and gloves and, of course, the toys!”

Retailers who took part in the Christmas Shoebox campaign can download a special ‘thank you’ poster here to display in their shops.