Bournemouth based logistics firm Shears Bros. (Transport) Ltd has supported Wessex Rotary Club’s Christmas Shoebox Scheme for the second year running, by providing valuable logistics support to the organisation.
Shears, an Owned Operation of logistics giant Pall-Ex Group, opened its new transport facility on Bournemouth Airport’s Aviation Business Park recently, which enabled it to assist the Rotary Club’s initiative.
First started in 1994, the annual Shoebox Scheme aims to provide children and families in eastern Europe with Christmas gifts, which have kindly been donated by schools and organisations across the UK, with over 25,000 shoeboxes being sent each year.
In October, countless cars filled with gifts and essential items arrived at Shears’ new facility and over 18,000 shoeboxes were placed in storage on behalf of Wessex Rotary.
These items were sorted and prepared for their onward journeys to Eastern Europe.
Among these items were boxes that had been collected on The Isle of Wight by Pall-Ex shareholder member Isle of Wight Distribution, who then transported them from their base in Newport to Bournemouth.
The new facility that Shears provided meant shoeboxes could be sorted into different sections, relating to a different location, including Romania, Montenegro, Moldova and Albania.
All the shoeboxes were loaded onto pallets by the Wessex Rotary and Shears team and prepared for departure.
In late November, EU vehicles from the respective destinations collected the pallets, having made earlier deliveries in the UK.
In what was the second year that Shears has supported this cause, it was the first time that new General Manager Mark Houghton has dealt with the Wessex Rotary.
On the Shoebox Scheme and how Shears has helped, Mark comments: “The Rotary Club’s Shoebox Scheme is a very worthy cause, helping children and families in less advantaged parts of the world enjoy a better Christmas so we are more than happy to support it.
“With over 18,000 shoeboxes, we were happy to provide the space and logistical expertise needed to ensure the scheme operates as efficiently as possible."
"I must say a special thank you to Shears employees Bob and Laura Kimber. This father and daughter team have dedicated many weekends to ensure the shoeboxes are ready to be sent out on time and they are a credit to the business.”
Geoff Philpot has been a key figure in organising Wessex Rotary’s Shoebox Scheme and has worked closely with Mark and the team this year.
On Shears’ support, Geoff comments: “Shears’ support of the scheme has been first class and it can be proud of its contribution to the cause.
“We have over 45 clubs in our district, all of whom work with their schools and local communities to collect thousands of shoeboxes full of Christmas presents donated by our children, as well as 36 cartons full of knitted and sewn clothes, toys and blankets.
“The gifts they receive will, in most cases, be the only Christmas present they receive so it is of vital importance we continue to carry out this work.”
This year’s Christmas shoeboxes have already begun to arrive at their destinations, with this year’s scheme proving to be more successful than ever.
Preparations are already underway for next years’ campaign, with it expected to be even bigger than before.
For more information about Wessex Rotary’s Shoebox Scheme, please visit: https://www.rotary-ribi.org/districts/homepage.php?DistrictNo=1110
For more information about Shears and the services it provides, please visit: https://www.sbtl.co.uk/.
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