Volunteering with Team Hope for their Christmas Shoebox Appeal🎅🎄

Hello everyone🤗 I hope everyone is doing okay❤️ During this second lockdown I haven’t been doing much at all. I started a new job 2 weeks ago and I am really enjoying it so far. I am working from home which is also a plus and the people I work with are sooo lovely and have been so welcoming. I couldn’t have started with a better group of people either😄 Everyone is so supportive, kind and helpful so I have been feeling very blessed🙏

I have been getting in the Christmas spirit lately🎅🎄 I have been listening to Christmas songs and watching Christmas movies. I wanted to put up the Christmas decorations last weekend but my Dad was being the Grinch and said that it’s ‘too early'🙄😂 I strongly disagree😂 Hopefully next weekend I will put them up. I have had my mini Christmas tree up in my room all year since last Christmas🎄 I am hoping to start my Christmas shopping soon also. Has anyone started theirs already? The build up to Christmas is going to be very different this year but we can still make the most of it and have a good time. Christmas has always been my favourite holiday, it brings me so much joy😄

I thought I would write a blog post today to update you all on something I have been working on for Christmas this year. With everything going on in the world I really wanted to do something this year to give back and help others. I was searching online for ways I could help and came across an amazing charity called Team Hope Ireland. I have been in touch with them over the last week discussing everything and I am volunteering with them to raise money for their annual Christmas Shoe Box Appeal🎁

About Team Hope:

Team Hope is an amazing Irish charity that works to help children affected by poverty in Africa and Eastern Europe. Team Hope works in 14 countries across Africa and Eastern Europe to help children affected by poverty or marginalisation. This charity is best known for their Christmas Shoebox Appeal each year where thousands of people in Ireland donate shoeboxes filled with gifts that will be given to children affected by poverty.

Due to Coronavirus, this year Team Hope cannot accept ready-made shoeboxes. Instead, the Christmas shoebox appeal will be online this year.

How the online shoebox appeal works:

Team Hope cannot accept ready-made shoeboxes this year but by making donations online, Team Hopes network of local partners in distribution countries will purchase gift items and create shoeboxes for us. One shoebox is €20 but all donations of any amount are welcome and appreciated🤗 Team Hopes partners will then deliver the shoeboxes to children in hospitals, schools, shelters, churches, orphanages, community centres and family homes.

Team Hope’s overseas partners:

Team Hope’s aim in 2020 is to deliver as many shoeboxes as possible to children in Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Romania, Transnistria (Moldova), Ukraine, Burundi, Kosovo, Albania, Belarus, Lesotho, eSwatini (Swaziland), Malawi and Burkina Faso.

My fundraising plan for Team Hope:

Due to Coronavirus, trying to figure out what to do in order to fundraise for the Christmas Shoebox Appeal was a little more difficult than it would be in usual times. After putting a lot of thought into my fundraising plan, I believe I came up with a lovely idea that is simple yet so effective. Especially for the cause at hand.

I will be creating a Just Giving page in the coming days. If you want to donate to this cause the link will be shared on my social media platforms once it is set up. One shoebox is €20 but any donation no matter the amount will make a huge difference.

Once you have donated I have set a social media challenge for everyone who donates😄 When you have donated money on the Just Giving page, I would love if you could list 5 things you are grateful for in your life on your social media platform. This can be on your story or on your feed. Once you have listed 5 things you are grateful for tag me and Team Hope in your post😄

My Instagram @ name is @shannonmunnelly and Team Hope’s Instagram @ name is @teamhopeireland.

Listing 5 things you are grateful for is such a lovely idea as it allows us to appreciate what we have in our lives no matter how big or small these things may be. Being thankful for what we have is such a beautiful thing and these amazing children will be so thankful when they receive their shoeboxes. Every donation is much appreciated🤗 The Just Giving page that I create will run until the week before Christmas to give Team Hope’s local partners time to create the shoeboxes for the children.

I would love and appreciate any support that you can give on this fundraiser. It means a lot to me, to Team Hope and most importantly to the beautiful children who will receive the shoeboxes❤️

Once I have shared the Just Giving link and the instructions I would be so grateful if you could share it on your social media platform, tell your family, tell your friends, tell your work colleagues etc.

We can make a change and give these children something wonderful this Christmas🎁❤️ I can’t wait to get started😄

The link and instructions will be up in the next few days. I wanted to fill you all in on my plans beforehand so you all know what I am doing and how to support if you wish to do so❤️

Until next time🤗

Much Love,

Shannon💛