Project Shoebox

8 November 2017

Project Shoebox started in 2014 and collects unused toiletries and non-perishable foods to pack into gift boxes and food hampers, which are then given out to women and their families who are in Oxfordshire domestic abuse refuges, homeless shelters, or who are refugees.

One again, Hertford will be collecting donations for Project Shoebox this Christmas. If you would like to donate an item, you can leave it in the Lodge before 30 November.

Completed shoeboxes and food packs are very welcome, but donations of single items are also great (and empty shoeboxes are always useful if you have any lying around!). As these items will be given out as gifts, we ask that everything is new and unused, please. In order to protect the women receiving a gift, we ask that you don’t include anything sharp (razors, scissors, mirrors, and tweezers) or medicines. It’s lovely if you can cover the lids of any shoeboxes in some wrapping paper, but please don’t seal the box as it will need to be checked before distribution.

As well as the women, Project Shoebox will be packing boxes for teenage boys and girls, as well as small children and mums with babies. Some ides of things you could donate are below:

• Shampoo and conditioner; cosmetics; hair products; soap; shower gel; toothbrush and toothpaste; body lotion; deodorant; face flannel; hairbrush and comb; face wash/toner/moisturiser; make-up remover or wipes; sanitary products; shaving foam
• Scarves, tights, socks, jewellery, slippers, sweets
• Greetings card
• Baby shampoo; baby lotion; baby oil; nappy cream; cotton wool; baby wipes; nappy disposal bags; unused dummies; nipple cream; disposable knickers; maternity towels; breast pads; baby grow, baby socks, soft toy, pack of disposable nappies. Anything knitted is lovely!
• Tea bags, coffee, sugar, cereal, pasta, pasta sauce, tinned goods, jam, marmalade, peanut butter, chocolate spread, tin of biscuits, Christmas items, chocolate

Last year Hertford College collected enough donations for every woman spending Christmas in a domestic violence refuge in Oxfordshire to receive a gift.

If you’d like any further information, please get in touch with Catherine Redford.