Record number of Perse shoeboxes donated to Christmas appeal

12 Nov 2020

A record-breaking 604 shoeboxes have been donated by generous Perse pupils and staff across the Upper, Prep and Pelican to boost the Link to Hope Christmas appeal.

This is a huge rise from what was already a record number of 524 shoeboxes gifted by the Perse community to the charity in 2019.

The festive parcels, which contain a mixture of useful and fun items including gloves, scarves, hats, sweets, soap, flannels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, candles and small games such as playing cards and dominoes, will be delivered to struggling families in Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine.

Perse Head of Computing and Digital Strategy Paul Baker, who co-ordinates the shoebox appeal, was thrilled with the response.

He said: “This is quite incredible and, with all the Covid disruption, pretty astonishing.”

Mr Baker thanked the Middle School Charities Committee for the role they played, along with Perse charities co-ordinators Claire Surgeoner and Millie Diss, in helping organise this year’s appeal.

He added: “In recent years, Perse form groups have got more heavily involved in the planning, purchasing and packing of the boxes. It is fantastic to see students taking the lead in the thinking and planning of these gifts for others who have so much less than ourselves.

“Particularly at Christmas, the opportunity to show kindness and thinking of others first, giving money and time to do so, is such an important message for students to understand.

“Perse pupils have shown enormous engagement and generosity with this project, and have not let anything, especially Covid, stand in their way of helping others. ”

James Piper, Head of the The Perse Prep, added: “Supporting Link to Hope’s Christmas shoebox appeal is part of the established routine for The Perse Prep in October and November. It is such a tangible way for children to take ownership of choosing and gathering a box of special goodies which will make a real difference for disadvantaged children and families in Eastern Europe.

“In these Covid times, where connectivity becomes that much harder, it is even more important for us all to embody one of the key Perse values of valuing one another.”