Prepare your shoeboxes for our boys
AN APPEAL has been launched to provide home comforts to
soldiers from Gloucestershire serving in Afghanistan.
-
Gloucestershire Media has joined forces with the Royal
British Legion to send shoeboxes full of gifts to men and women
serving in the war zone.
About 500 soldiers from 1 Rifles, which is mostly made up of
troops from the former Royal Gloucestershire Berkshire and
Wiltshire Regiment and the Devon and Dorset Regiment, will be
deployed throughout Afghanistan next month.
Members of Hardwicke British Legion have organised The
Shoebox Appeal to encourage people from across the county to
send in goodies, which can be put into the boxes and dispatched
to the troops.
The Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo have launched the
Gifts For Our Heroes campaign to help the legion get as many
presents as possible.
Branch chairman Bill Bratty, 63, said: "We just want them to
know that we are thinking of them and that they are doing a
great job."
"It will be something nice for them to have when they are
fed up with rations."
The Rifles are based at Beachley, near Chepstow.
Many of the soldiers have served in Belize, Kosovo and
America. It is their first tour in Afghanistan since moving to
the barracks.
The large majority of the infantry battalion are men, but
there are also some female medics and admin staff flying
out.
Sarjeant Simon Morgan, 40, is one of the soldiers heading to
Afghanistan. He has given his full backing to the campaign.
He said: "Any mail you get while serving gives you a massive
morale boost.
"The hardest thing out there is missing your family. It's a
fantastic scheme and it will bring us all closer to home."
The legion does not want people to send in filled shoeboxes,
but just the gifts themselves.
Some of the items which can be included are boiled sweets,
chewing gum, tea bags, stock cubes, wet wipes and instant
powder soups.
One item the soldiers do not want sent to them is chocolate,
as Sjt Morgan, from Lea, near Ross on Wye, found out while
serving in Belize.
He said: "I opened a package from my mum and the chocolate
was just pouring out of it. It was too hot, so no chocolate
please."
The boxes will have a maximum weight of 4kg due to weight
restrictions, and are due to be sent in October.
Mel Robinson, 43, organised the campaign with Mr Batty. She
hopes that 600 shoe boxes will be sent together.
"The idea has been in the pipeline for the past few weeks,
and we've already had plenty of generous donations.
"Tesco in Quedgeley is giving us a trolley full of stuff
too. They've been fantastic."
17 Comments
View all
by Tracy Elliston-Murray, Warwick
Saturday, November 07 2009, 10:38PM
“My son goes to Warwick School they have an army cadet force, they have already requested shoe boxes so it is to late this year but i will approach them next year.i would like my children's boxes to go to the soldiers. WHERE DO I SEND THEM? I am going to approach other parents.”
by kim forrest, edinburgh
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 7:16PM
“I really want to send out a box of gifts to a soldier/s and wondered where I can send them to?”
by julie shaw, Burton on trent
Monday, October 26 2009, 3:37PM
“please could you e-mail and let us know where to send the full boxes . I cant seem to find out where to send them thanks julie”
by Eileen armstrong, Coventry
Monday, August 31 2009, 6:19PM
“I would love to get this idea started up in Coventry, the people I have spoken to so far are very keen to help. Please can you send me some details of how to go about this. I have plenty of spare time. Thankyou.”
by Sue, Worthing
Thursday, February 12 2009, 9:35PM
“I have been watching Ross Kemp in Afghanistan, and realised the pleasure the guys got from having boxes of goodies sent with a letter of support for risking their lives in this way. I would like to fil some shoeboxes and get them sent with sensible things not chocolate, just to make their very dusty existance out there a bit more bearable. Where can I send the items ?
I think a letter would be acceptable to them as well to boost morale, they don't have to know the sender but it would lift them to hear from those of us who appreciate their work out there, some of them are so young seeing things no lad that age should see.
Can you let me know the best way to go about this please ?
Sue( A disabled pensioner)”
by Liz, Thetford
Wednesday, October 29 2008, 6:48PM
“I want to know where to drop off shoeboxes for the forces in or around the Thetford, Norfolk area please. Thank you.”
by Abi, Gloucester
Tuesday, August 26 2008, 11:16AM
“It's a great idea, but there's no list of suggested items and people don't know where to send the boxes to.
I feel intoducing the idea into schools would also be a good idea and help spread the word about the scheme.”
by Lecorche, Gloucestershire
Monday, August 11 2008, 11:51AM
“I see a few commentators have shot themselves in the foot with ill aimed criticisms.
Maybe if the Citizen had titled this article "Treats for Our Troops" it would have helped.
They are not asking for Weapons or Armour,just little luxuries that are unavailable in Afghanistan.
How this article can be perceived as some Dickensian Poverty Report is beyond me.”
by Fod'r, 'Nam
Monday, August 11 2008, 6:49AM
“In partial support of "Against".
Leaving aside whether the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are for valid reasons, if UK forces are sent overseas then they should at least be fed and equipped properly.
That members of the armed forces require shoeboxes of food/gifts should be considered a major embarrassment to the UK government.”
by j, glos
Sunday, August 10 2008, 10:32PM
“i guess hardwick british legion in green lane will be happy to accept them , also tesco at quedgeley has a huge crate by customer services to put things in too. come on citizen we all want to be involved tell us where to go!!!”