‘Tis the season of goodwill, so you might be feeling like spreading some goodwill.
If so, there is a Belgian charity appeal that would welcome some support this Christmas.
The idea is to fill shoeboxes with, more or less, 10 food items and beverages (non-alcoholic, non-perishable, easy to open, and ready to eat) and a season’s greetings card.
Hygiene articles, gloves, a scarf, and a cap are welcome too.
When filled, the shoeboxes are wrapped as Christmas gifts and distributed to the needy in Brussels.
The organisation behind the “shoebox appeal” is les Samaritains asbl but it is supported by Restos du Coeur, Poverello, Nativitas, Samu Social, La Fontaine, Chez Nous/Bij Ons, and the Spanish Mission, plus many others across Belgium.
A spokesman for the campaign said,
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the campaign collects and distributes to the homeless and poor of Belgium.
Donated items can be dropped off at various locations (see website, in French, Dutch, and English, for details).
The boxes are distributed to the homeless and poor by the above named organisations.
The spokesman told this site,
“People should bring their boxes to a storage location.The list is on our website.
“In the coming week, we will spend our time picking up boxes in schools and companies.”
A “virtual” donation can also be made for those who cannot get to any of the locations by paying the price of a shoebox to a bank account. Organisers will purchase food and hygiene products and offer them to the beneficiaries.
Launched in 1999 by les Samaritains asbl of Brussels, the campaign has, over the years, donated thousands of gifts for the homeless and the poor of Belgium.
