Christmas excitement begins with shoebox appeal at Cornafulla NS

Christmas came early to Cornafulla National School last Friday morning, as stacks of boxes wrapped in colourful Christmas paper were piled up in the main hallway of the school by the time classes got underway. However, it was the children playing Santa Claus and the presents were prepared by them and their families to send abroad to children in poorer countries where, as a result of war or natural disasters, Santa is often unable to deliver his presents at Christmas time while their families are too poor to afford any kind of a treat. Children from all classes were leaving presents tucked into shoeboxes in the hallway before heading back to class, and even helping some of the junior classes carry their boxes to the pile. Some of the sixth class girls who helped to organise the collection within the school were all business, giving orders and re-stacking piles in safer towers! The shoebox appeal, officially called Operation Christmas Child, is run by Samaritans Purse, a charity which sends gifts to needy children in countries such as Armenia, Belarus, Croatia, Lesotho, Moldova, Nepal, Romania, Ukraine, Swaziland or Zimbabwe. Children in schools across Athlone, as well as some workplaces and community associations, take part in the shoebox appeal every year. The boxes are filled with suitable gifts for boys and girls, whatever their race, creed religion or ethnic background. People send toys, hats and scarves, school stationary, personal hygiene items and little treats. No food, medicine, war-related items or books with words are allowed. A shoebox is used so that every child gets a similar sized gift and the boxes are easy to transport. Local woman Helen Glynn has helped Cornafulla NS organise the shoebox appeal for the last six years. "It's a very popular thing for the children to do," said Principal Joan Conway. "Helen shows a video to the junior classes so they learn about it. Then leaflets are sent home. We usually get one box per family in the school, every little helps. The kids enjoy picking out the presents." It seems that the girls from these poorer countries are benefiting the most when it comes to the type of presents being sent out. The majority of boxes contained presents for girls, picked by those of a similar age here, fully sure of the taste of their peers abroad. This year, like every other charity local or international, the shoebox appeal is not proving as bountiful as it has been in previous years. Household budgets are tighter than ever now. Ms Conway said that it was a reality that there were less presents donated this year, but the school still had over 100 to send off. She praised the effort the children, and their families, made for the appeal every year. The senior girls were organising the presents on the morning and helped to stack them on to the delivery van. Emma who's in fifth class decided to send off a box to a girl roughly her own age. She said it was fun to do and it was nice to help other kids who can't get presents. "I picked out a teddy bear, pencils, a pencil case and notepad," she said. "I picked out what I'd like to get. A girl will now get the box with lots of nice things in it." Aislinn is in sixth class and from Taylorstown. She had also decided to buy a present for a girl and bought her a colouring pad and pencils. She said that buying Christmas presents now made her look forward to Christmas and made her feel lucky that she'd get presents from her family. Yvonne Caoimhe and Casey were also helping out on the day, carrying the presents out to the waiting van. Talk turned to what the girls are getting for Christmas themselves, and there was lots of discussions about high-tec mobile phones and Hannah Montana. Once the girls finished their Christmas present giveaway, it was time to head back into French class or rugby and thoughts turned to the bell ringing at 3pm to set free them into the weekend. The delivery van went off to collect shoeboxes from another school, to send off to children who dream of having enough food, shelter and love.