Volunteers packed 172,000 gift shoeboxes

TEAM HOPE have thanked all Macra members who helped check boxes, pack cartons and load lorries at their warehouses across Ireland.

Team Hope received 172,000 gift-filled shoeboxes from Irish people this year, dispatched in 23 container trucks on their way to children in eastern Europe and Africa. The first Team Hope trip has returned from distributing 22,000 Christmas shoebox gifts to western Romania. When these trucks from Kerry and Dublin drove into the village of Saravale, the children lined the village square, and there was a buzz of excitement.

The mayor of Saravale even came out to lend a hand distributing the boxes to the delighted children, who could not wait to get their Christmas presents.