Ukraine Appeal

Many of you will have been following the tragic and distressing scenes taking place in Ukraine. As events unfold within the country, many people have been displaced from their homes to find safety and those left are facing the challenges of limited everyday items. As a school, we have been moved by the scenes we are seeing, particularly by the number of children who have been affected. Some of you will already have donated money or items to one of the charities or organisations trying to get aid to Ukraine. As a school, we want to do our part to help too. We have contacted an organisation called Van Aid who are collecting shoeboxes and other items to take to Ukraine. They have already sent one van to an orphanage on the Polish border which is helping refugees as they arrive from Ukraine, and are hoping to send another van next week with aid directly to Ukraine. We will deliver the shoeboxes to St. John’s Church in Folkestone for collection.  If you would like to donate to this appeal, please see the list of items that could be included on the next page and how to prepare a shoebox if that is what you choose to donate.

Please don’t include any monetary donations in your boxes. We will be holding further events in school to raise money for the people of Ukraine and will send out details of this shortly.

We have spoken to the children in assembly today about the appeal and so they may be keen to help decorate boxes, choose items or write a message to go in the box.

If you are not able to put together a shoebox, we would be happy to accept individual items.

We will be receiving donations from Wednesday 16^th March until Friday 18^th March in the Year 1 paddock.

Many thanks for your continued support.

David Metcalfe

To prepare your shoebox

Fill a shoe box

• Decorate it and/or wrap the box in bright colours. (Do not seal the lid to the box – it needs to be able to be opened to be checked at checking stations)
• Put a card in it if you wish to (No personal addresses or phone numbers to be enclosed)
• Write on the top of your box clearly approximate age the box is for, and whether it is for Male/Female/Unisex
• Secure box together with an elastic band
• Attach a list of the contents of the box to the underside (For custom’s reasons)
• Then take your completed box to one of the below drop off points.
• All boxes will then be collected and taken to pre-organised drop off stations to be included in Aid shipments to the Ukraine borders and surrounding countries for those directly affected.

Ideas of item to put in your shoebox

• Small teddy/cuddly toy
• Sweets and biscuits (No chocolate)
• Small toys (nothing war related), fidget toys, tubs of playdough/plasticine, toy cars, toy dinosaurs, dressing up items, puzzles, bubbles, small ball.
• Children’s wash items – Flannels, sponges, soap, toothbrushes, and toothpaste, shower gels
• Tissues and/or baby wipes
• Hair ties, clips, headbands
• Hairbrushes/combs
• Activity books, colouring books, colouring paper, diaries, Pens, pencils, & crayons
• Hat/scarves and Gloves
• Socks/tights
• Small clothing items
• Small blankets
• Kids novelty torches
• Older Children’s Hair products
• Older Children phone chargers, power banks and headphones
• A card with a kind message in

**Please do not include nuts, chocolate or anything glass based **

Other items accepted

Nappies (all sizes)

Adult sanitary and incontinence pads

Tampons

Toothbrushes and toothpaste

Deodorant

Body wash

Hair brush

Baby milk

Pet food

Wet wipes

Cup of soups

3 in 1 coffee sachets

Protein bars

Batteries

Torches