Left: Teagan McPherson, Eve Trickey, coordinator Di Wilson, Emily Palmer, Loren Siacci, Jade Macreadie, Emily Sacco, Tiffany Mahony and Layne Shepherd (obscured).PAKENHAM school students have been collecting items to donate as Christmas presents for children in war-ravaged and poor areas of the world.
Five years ago, Beaconhills College started supporting the Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Shoebox Appeal.
This organisation, set up by Franklin Graham, son of the famous evangelist Billy Graham, collects worldwide more than two million shoeboxes full of useful items to be distributed to children.
Small toys and games as well as useful items such as soap and toothpaste are among the items donated.
Beaconhills headmaster Tony Sheumack said that for every year Beaconhills had participated, more than 100 shoeboxes had been donated from both the junior and senior schools.
He said in most cases, each class chooses an age and sex of a child they wished to prepare a box for and students then collected suitable items for the shoebox, as well as donating money to cover the costs of shipping.
In some cases, individual students and families as well as staff contribute their own boxes as well, he said.
“In past years, our donated shoeboxes have gone to East Timor. This year, they will go to Cambodia,” Mr Sheumack said.
“This year our community service captains plan to visit the distribution and collection centre in Frankston where all the shoeboxes collected in Melbourne are checked and sealed before being sent off ready for distribution on or near Christmas Day.”
