SOME UNSUNG HEROS

You see all of us buzzing around checking boxes, packing cartons, driving, ensuring the filler tables are well stocked, etc. etc. However, lots of things go on behind the scenes to make this operation all tick. Let's meet a few of our unsung heroes.

The Warehouse: Without it we couldn't do what we do, thank you to Marianne and Gerard who work so hard to get us here. Sadly this year they have both decided to give up their posts. Please come along to our thank you event to celebrate all the years they have given to make such a fantastic project.

Number of boxes: It's crucial we need to know this so when the shoeboxes arrive at their destination the right number of children are there to receive them. How sad to overestimate and have children waiting for a shoebox and there not be enough. Thank you Gerard for getting it right.
Rejects: Sadly we do have to take some items out of the boxes during checking. Marianne has looked after those too, ensuring everything is used. Giving items to Guildford Action, the food bank, a local school for the books, playing cards to troops, bubbles to a local school for the disabled... we could go on, but everything is used.



The Collections: Thank you Heather, actually a big thank you Heather as this is probably the most complex and time consuming job of all to arrange with all our donors with 50+ shoeboxes a collection time and date. Naturally the shoeboxes have to be ready but of course they need to be coordinated so the pick ups in one area are done on the same date wherever possible or we would be wasting time and money running around all over the area. Heather is on the left, Jenny is just getting in on the act!




Tea, Coffee and Cleaning the Loos. This is coordinated by Wendy Hoare and Barbara Wilson who must know everyone. So much so they can encourage people to pop their name on the list to wash up mugs etc and give the loos a quick clean. This was an easier job this year as there were less mugs than usual to wash up, though the lack of kitchen facilities still made it a challenge!

Finance: Where does all the money go? We take all the donations out of the shoeboxes and pop them into the dish on the table. But guess what? This all has to be counted and this is another huge job. Thank you to Colin and Sue and their deputies, Sue and Roy, for doing such an admirable job. We now know it is not just the counting of the money but it all has be separated into cash and cheques, then again into Gift Aided and not Gift Aided.






Please don't desert us yet..... a final blog tomorrow with our final numbers......... lots of amazing figures and final photos.... get ready to be wowed, amazed and very pleased with all your hard work