Residents of Stoke Gifford Retirement Village have been spreading holiday cheer far and wide this year, sending more than 200 lovingly packed Christmas gift boxes to the Teams4u Shoebox Appeal.
The annual campaign, which is organised by the charity Teams4u, brings Christmas gifts and essential items to vulnerable children and families across Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Bosnia and Romania.
In 2023, residents of the Stoke Gifford Retirement Village packed 145 boxes, but this year they were hoping to send 250 with the Shoebox Appeal.
Each shoebox contains everyday essentials like toothpaste and soap, as well as toys, to brighten lives during the holiday season. Teams4u works closely with local partners, including the Red Cross, to ensure these gifts reach those who need them most.
Led by resident Viv Warren, the Stoke Gifford community has gone above and beyond, raising an estimated £3,000-£4,000 to fill the boxes. At £15-£20 per box, their efforts reflect extraordinary generosity and teamwork.
The residents didn’t just financially support the project but also put their skills and creativity to work, knitting hats and gloves, crafting soft toys and even upcycling charity shop finds. Preloved Barbie dolls were given glamorous makeovers, complete with painted-on shoes and custom-made outfits. A homemade teddy bear was also included in each, made by the Stoke Gifford ‘Knit and Natter’ group.
Viv expressed pride in the Stoke Gifford community’s efforts, saying: “Everyone in the Village has worked really hard to make the project a success. Staff, residents, families and friends have pulled together to give the children a box of little extras, put together with thought and love, to cheer their Christmas.”