The founder of Keith’s Closet, which gifts pre-loved clothing to patients, says the Shoe Box Appeal ran for the first time last year with recipients so grateful that he and other volunteers were determined to run the campaign again this year.
“It is such a nice thing to do at Christmas,” he said.
“A lot of clients would not get anything as they are so isolated usually from family and friends and this is just a small token to show someone is thinking of them and they are not alone.”
Suggested shoe box items include toothbrush, toothpaste, Christmas mug, face creams, roll-on deodorant, after shave, perfume, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, caps, socks, flannel, sunglasses, thongs, gift voucher, hair accessories or key ring.
“If you could include a Christmas message and a few words of love and kindness and wrap the box like a Christmas present, but don’t seal the box, that would be wonderful,” Keith said.
“Just mark the box ‘M’ for male and ‘F’ for female and don’t include sharp items such as razors, religious or political literature, medicines or aerosol cans.”
With no shortage of volunteers from Keith’s soccer club at Revesby Workers’ Club as well as from Bankstown District Amateur Football Association (BDAFA), Keith has been running operations to support mental health from his garage and the basement of the hospital.
“We are on the lookout for a bigger space so we can keep growing our support services,” he said.
Drop off your shoe box gift at the Euroa Centre, Prince of Wales, Randwick (Avoca St entrance), on Saturday, December 3, 7-10am.
For more info, call Keith on 0451 220 227.
