Seymour House Supports Home-Start Essex with Annual Christmas Shoebox Appeal
Seymour House has once again proudly supported Home-Start Essex with our annual Christmas shoebox appeal, helping to ensure that children supported by the charity receive a thoughtful gift during the festive season.
Each year, our families and nursery team come together to donate small items that can be lovingly packed into a shoebox. These gifts, ranging from toys and books to practical care items such as gloves, hats, toothbrushes and soap, are sorted by age and gender before being given to children attending Home-Start Family Groups.
An important and joyful part of the appeal is seeing the children in our nurseries join in. With a sprinkle of festive excitement in the air, they decorate the shoeboxes with bright colours, careful designs and plenty of smiles. Their creativity adds a touch of Christmas magic to every box, and the experience helps them learn about kindness, empathy and the joy of giving to others during this special time of year.
This year, the generosity of our families and nursery team has been greatly appreciated. The collection included a wonderful variety of gifts, alongside many additional donations that will support families who may have very few presents to open this Christmas.
When collecting the shoeboxes, Melissa Reynolds, Events and Partnerships Manager at Home-Start Essex, expressed her appreciation for the support shown by Seymour House. In her message, she shared how moved she was by the thoughtfulness behind every item and the care taken in sourcing and packing each shoebox.
Reflecting on the appeal, Caroline Clark, Head of Operations at Seymour House, said:
“Our annual shoebox appeal is a meaningful opportunity for our families, parents, carers and nursery team to support Home-Start Essex at a particularly important time of year. We are incredibly grateful for every donation and proud of the children who help decorate the shoeboxes with such enthusiasm. Together, we are helping to bring comfort and joy to local families this Christmas.”
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed. Your continued kindness and support make a real difference to children and families across Essex, and we are proud to work alongside Home-Start in strengthening our local community.
