LEGAL EAGLE: Supporting charity Shoebox Appeal

The Hartlepool solicitors once again offered its support for the annual ‘Shoebox Appeal’ by Teesside’s Philanthropic Foundation, an initiative to help disadvantaged and homeless people over the Christmas period.

The Teesside Foundation once again gave local businesses the chance to help out in their annual Christmas appeal, where shoeboxes are offered containing items to help the homeless over the festive period.

This year, donations were to be made online to allow the foundation to buy what is needed to make up the boxes.

Staff - including partners - at TBI put forward their donations to help, among many local businesses in the north east and patrons of the Foundation. The result prior to Christmas has surpassed a combined total of £5,000 from all donations (TBI included), to be used by the charity to safely bulk-buy these essentials to help those that need it most this Christmas.

Mandy Shields, events manager at the charity, said: “each year the Philanthropic Foundation holds a shoebox appeal, where it’s business supporters fill shoeboxes with toiletries, hats, gloves & snacks.

The boxes are then distributed to the homeless, those living in hostels and women’s refuges and to refugee & asylum seeker groups.

“This year with restrictions caused by Covid, the Foundation asked for cash donations from its

supporters so that the items could be bought in bulk and made up by the Foundation staff, reducing the risk of too many people being involved in the process. We had an amazing response with over £5000 raised for the campaign.

“Those receiving the boxes were extremely grateful as they assumed they would not be receiving one this year due to the circumstances with the pandemic.”

For any other businesses or individuals wanting to support this appeal please click here to make a donation, while anybody in need of a local solicitor in Hartlepool should contact Tilly Bailey & Irvine on 01429 350062.