Following months of anger and heartache, the team at Shoebox House – Southern River are now reaching out to the community for help.
Over the Christmas-New Year break, thieves ransacked the group’s storage container and stole a whopping 1731 items of clothing.
The items were due to be sent to people in need across the globe, as part of Operation Christmas Child.
Just a few weeks later, vandals broke into the group’s meeting premises.
The culprits smashed windows, broke down doors, and rummaged through cupboards and filing cabinets.
However, the offenders were forced to flee the premises empty-handed.
Shoebox House – Southern River will be hosting a ‘big morning tea’ event at the Thornlie Church of Christ, from 9.30am on March 26.
Attendees must bring at least one item of clothing or one toy each.
All of the donated items will be added to the group’s 2021 Operation Christmas Child collection.
“It’s estimated that we lost around $15,000 worth of items, earlier this year,” Shoebox House – Southern River area co-ordinator Yvonne Richardson said.
“We’re inviting community members to come along and donate some items, to help replace what we had stolen.
“Our volunteers put so much work into this campaign each year…it’s really encouraging to see the community get behind us, and to help us replace those items.”
Contact Ms Richardson on 0413188157 to find out more or to make a donation.
