Castle Douglas has collected a record number of shoeboxes to help relieve poverty and need in Eastern Europe at Christmas.
The town’s Rotary Club has supported the Shoebox Scheme for many years and this time around joined forces with Dalbeattie Rotarians to fill even more boxes.
As a result, a total of 135 boxes – including 28 from Dalbeattie – are now on their way to Eastern Europe.
There are four types of boxes – toys for children, items for babies and new mothers, items for teenagers and general household items. They are an ideal outlet for unwanted toys as to children in Eastern Europe they are a great – and possibly only – Christmas present.
Castle Douglas Rotary Club president James Robertson said: “Although we have not been able to meet in our usual way, the club is still active and doing positive things in the community.
“Earlier this year we were able to help the development forum fund their ready meal service in Castle Douglas with a £1,500 donation. Now we have despatched a record number of shoeboxes to Eastern Europe. We will continue to support local, national and international needs.”
This year they are being taken to Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, Albania and Belarus, including Chernobyl. Once they arrive, they are distributed by local Rotary clubs to the most needy.
