It started out 27 years ago when 300 boxes left the Highlands for the Romanian city of Cluj.
And now, Christian charity Blythswood is facing its biggest challenge to date as they seek to bring smile and cheer to those less fortunate.
More than 2.4 million shoeboxes filled with essentials – and a few treats – have been distributed to poorer countries since the inception of the idea
But with a global pandemic looking like it will disrupt all Christmas plans, Blythswood is urging people to one again prepare a donation because “in 2020, your box will count more than ever”.
Fear of spread of coronavirus has led to some shoe shops disposing of shoeboxes rather than donating them to the charity to be filled with all kinds of essentials and goodies, from bottles of shampoo to colouring pencils.
This year, however, the charity has said donations do not have to be in the form of a traditional shoebox – drawstring bags will be accepted.
The journey of a shoebox – The kind-hearted volunteers who make Christmas for those less fortunate
Danny Muschate, Blythswood Care’s head of fundraising, said: “We have made a decision to encourage people that if they can’t source a shoebox, then please use a drawstring bag, similar to a kids’ gym bag, approximately 40×30 centimetres.
“It is the same size that the boxes fill so you can get the same contents in.
“It does mean that there is not as much freedom to decorate as people would in previous years with the boxes but it means we can still distribute these, and the bags could come in useful.
“It may not be a shoebox this year but we are asking people to please give if you can.”
Boxes are again to be distributed to Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine.
The operation usually entails the work of mass volunteers at locations all around the country, where each box is carefully checked, assorted and packaged before being sent thousands of miles across the continent to its desired recipient.
However, due to restrictions on mass gatherings and issues with hygiene and double handling, many church and village halls will not be filled with chatter quite like they have been in previous years.
Instead, a large warehouse facility is being sought for short term let to serve as a one-stop-shop where boxes, and bags, can be thoroughly checked, topped up if required, and then placed into lorries with their destination in mind.
Mr Muschate added: “Our different challenge this year because of Covid is we can’t necessarily do all of the sorting and checking in all of the locations that we previously have.
“We are trying to find a big space in Inverness that we can use for a few months to allow us to get all the boxes sorted correctly and placed on pallets.
“What we need is an empty warehouse.
“The plan will be that things can be dropped off, they can quarantine appropriately and there will be space to have people sorting through boxes.”
Boxes are being asked to be handed into the nearest collection points by the end of October before they will begin to depart for the eight countries in mid-November to arrive in time for Christmas.
The impact of the boxes has been described by Mr Muschate as “colossal” as he added: “It really is amazing. I am never not blown away from reactions at what people get excited at.
“We really do believe that in 2020, your box will count more than ever.”
