Eastern Europe
1,100,000+
£Ongoing
What Makes the Link to Hope Shoebox Appeal Different?
The Link to Hope Shoebox Appeal 2026 brings practical help, dignity, and hope to families and elderly people living in poverty across Ukraine and Eastern Europe — not just children. When you fill a shoebox, you support an entire household or an elderly person who may be isolated or struggling to meet basic needs. Each shoebox contains a carefully chosen mix of practical and thoughtful items for all family members, including toiletries, stationery, family games, gifts for mum and dad, sweets, soft toys, and seasonal essentials such as hats and scarves. Every item helps show care, value, and compassion.
Our Shoebox Appeal, which has been running since 1992, has delivered hope and smiles to thousands of people across Eastern Europe. To date, we have sent over 1.1 million shoeboxes to hundreds of locations, reaching communities affected by poverty, conflict, and economic hardship.
It is a simple but powerful way to help, and anyone can get involved. Individuals, families, schools, churches, and businesses all play an important role, and we continue to grow our national network of supporters.
We are especially keen to partner with schools, churches, businesses, and community groups who want to support the Shoebox Appeal 2026 and help transform lives across Ukraine and Eastern Europe — one shoebox at a time.
What Makes the Link to Hope Shoebox Appeal Different?
We deliver our shoeboxes to some of the poorest people in Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, and Romania, reaching families and elderly people living in poverty across Eastern Europe.
Unlike many other shoebox appeals, we provide shoeboxes for entire families and older people, not just children, so that no one is left out. Our approach helps ensure dignity, inclusion, and practical support for everyone in the household.
We are a small but well-established UK charity, with personal, trusted relationships with our partners in Eastern Europe who carefully deliver each shoebox. We take transparency seriously and carry out spot-checks to help ensure that shoeboxes reach the right people.
Above all, we believe that sending a shoebox is a way of sharing care, kindness, and hope from people in the UK to those living in poverty or conflict, given freely and without discrimination, regardless of background, colour, creed, or religion.
Donate to the Shoebox Appeal 2025
Donate your £3 per shoebox on behalf of yourself or the financial total of your groups/organisation/businesses shoeboxes eg 10 shoeboxes = £30 OR donate to the 2025 Family & Elderly Shoebox Appeal.
To send a cheque instead then please send it to Link to Hope, Link House, Ferring Street, Ferring, West Sussex, BN12 5JP. Please mark clearly who has sent it and the number of shoeboxes or the donation you would like to make.
To make a BACS payment our details are: Natwest, 60-24-31, Account No. 12677949. PLEASE PUT A REFERENCE ON YOUR PAYMENT
Send us items for the Shoebox Appeal 2025
We would love to receive bulk purchases of items from our Shoebox Leaflet for our Shoebox Appeal 2025. Receiving items in bulk (ie more than one or two) would mean that we could make even more shoeboxes to be sent out to the people we support in Eastern Europe. Please send your bulk items to Shoebox Appeal, Link to Hope, Link House, Ferring Street, Ferring, West Sussex, BN12 5JP. Alternatively you could order items on line and have them sent directly to us. We also have an Amazon Wish List that you can use if you are shopping on line with them.
What should I send?
We would love to receive bulk purchases of items suitable to go into a Family or Elderly Shoebox. All of the items we would like to receive can be found on our Shoebox Appeal Leaflet 2025
- Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
- Candles & Holders
- Small Games – Draughts/Playing Cards
- Sweets/Chocolates – Packets
- Soap & Flannels
- Colouring Pads, Crayons/Pencils/ Calculators, A5 Pads
- Small Toys – Yo-yo’s, Skipping Ropes, Toys cars etc
- Gifts for parents – DIY tools, tape measures, lightweight head scarves, jewellery
- Toiletries – Shampoo, new make up, moisturiser, hairbrushes
- Reading Glasses, Wooden Cutlery, Sensory Items, Hot Water Bottles, Work Gloves, Socks & Tights (New), Wind Up Radio/Torch, Scissors, Nail Clippers etc
Receiving items in bulk (ie more than one or two) would mean that we could make even more shoeboxes to be send out to the people we support in Eastern Europe.
Please send you bulk items to Link to Hope, Link House, Ferring Street, Ferring, West Sussex, BN12 5JP
Alternatively you could order items on line and have them sent directly to us. We also have an Amazon Wish List that you can use if you are shopping on line with them. Obviously there are many other stores that you could purchase from such as The Works, The Range, Supermarkets, Poundland/Poundstretcher etc.
Family Shoebox Appeal
What’s in a typical Christmas shoebox gift for a family?
The families who receive your Christmas shoeboxes often have to choose between buying food or fuel. Buying presents is a low priority, as their homes often lack running water or are cold, damp and dark because they have no electricity. Our online Shoebox Appeal list mixes eleven essential and luxury items. For example:
- Knitted hat
- Chocolate
- Soap and flannel
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Candle and holder
- Playing cards
- Hairbrush
- Tape measure
- Soft toy
- Calculator
- Shampoo
Please note, we need a £3 donation with each Christmas shoebox to cover the cost of shipping it to the recipient.
Join in with the Shoebox Appeal and buy a family shoebox online
If you’re unable to make up a shoebox, but would like to donate one, you can make an online donation of £20 per shoebox. We will fill one for you and add a greeting card on your behalf. If you would like us to send you a photo of it, please let us know.
Elderly Shoebox Appeal
Due to the number of elderly people that are now being left alone due to their families leaving to work away, we have launched the Elderly Shoebox Appeal. The boxes are similar however the childrens games and education materials are replaced with a wind up torch, sensory items, candle and holder etc.
- Our Shoebox Appeal send shoeboxes to Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine.
We are small enough that we have a personal relationship with all the key contacts in Eastern Europe who distribute your Shoeboxes and we do spot checks to ensure that your boxes are received by the correct people.
We are a Christian charity who believe in distributing love to those in need regardless of background, colour, creed or religion.
Why do we ask for Christmas shoeboxes for the elderly?
Many elderly people are left alone because their families had to flee or fight, or because they are in communities where employment is scarce, forcing their family members to move away to look for work. Many elderly people are left with nobody. Our Shoebox Appeal for the elderly people is a very powerful reminders that people genuinely care. The online Christmas shoebox list includes a range of much-needed items. For example, you might select:
- Cutlery
- Lavender bag
- Socks
- Hot water bottle
- Pen and paper
- Reading glasses
- Gloves
- Boiled sweets
- Soap and flannel
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
Please remember, we also need a £3 donation to ship each shoebox to the elderly person.
Buy a Christmas shoebox online for an elderly person
If you would like to join in with the Shoebox Appeal, we will fill a Christmas shoebox for an elderly person on your behalf for £20 donation. We’ll include a Christmas card from you and, if you wish, we can send you a photograph of your shoebox.
Packing a Shoebox
Link to Hope do Family and Elderly Shoeboxes. We do not do children’s shoeboxes. There are many excellent charities that do, but we believe that everyone deserves a present at Christmas time. We always ask for people to put similar items in each and every box. It can be a real challenge, but our box stuffers are always equal to the task! Over the years we’ve found the recipients really appreciate those items which meet their most immediate, and mostly practical, needs.
How to Pack a Shoebox – Long Version
How to Pack a Shoebox – Short Version
We are unable to accept any of the following items you may have put in due to the customs in each country – FOOD, PACKETS OF PARACETAMOL OR ANY OTHER MEDICINES, ANY BOOKS, TEA/COFFEE, OUT OF DATE ITEMS, TINS OF SARDINES/BAKED BEANS, BISCUITS AND ANY ITEMS OF CLOTHING EXCEPT FOR HATS/GLOVES/SCARVES etc. NO UNDERWEAR OR SANITARY ITEMS
Shoebox Appeal – 7 Steps
If you are struggling to find a shoebox IKEA are selling them for 50p each on their website IKEA SHOEBOXES
1. Order this years shoebox leaflets – SHOEBOX REGISTRATION 2026 WILL OPEN IN JANUARY.
2. Gather the items listed in the BLUE box. These items should try to go in every shoebox regardless of whether it is a Family or Elderly Shoebox. Then choose 5 or more of the items in the RED or PURPLE Box and put them in your shoebox. There should be a minimum of 11 different items in your shoebox
3. Tick everything you have put into your box and whether it is a Family or an Elderly Shoebox.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO NOT PUT IN ANY FOOD (INCL. BISCUITS), MEDICINES, BOOKS, TEA/COFFEE OR OUT OF DATE ITEMS, NO SANITARY ITEMS OR UNDERWEAR. ALSO NO ITEMS FOR UNDER 3 YEARS OLD’S – THIS IS DUE TO CUSTOM REGULATIONS.
4. Now wrap the entire box in wrapping paper. If you want to wrap the lid and box separately please make sure it is securely sellotaped and an elastic band is put around it. This is to stop them opening during transit.
5. Tape the contents list (the one where you have ticked all the items) to the shoebox only on the yellow strips where indicated.
6. Fold over the leaflet and if you pay tax please complete and sign the attached Gift Aid Form. Please tape down where indicated and attach £3.
7. Lastly please go to our Getting Shoeboxes to us page to find your nearest drop off point.
Shoebox crafting
We thought it would be a good idea to create a crafting page where we can put up ideas on how to make items for your shoeboxes. Rather than re-invent the wheel we will be putting up links to videos, pages and tutorials that give you step to step guides to how to do things. Please note that these websites are just for guidance and you can of course use any other site that you find. NB By linking to these websites we are not endorsing their views.
First up is knitting and crocheting. In a shoebox we only need these sorts of items – hats/gloves/scarves/headband/slippers. The only other knitted/crochet item we need is knee blankets that will go with your shoebox but not in it.
Please do not knit items of clothing such as jumpers, baby matinee jackets or anything for under three years old. Also nothing in pastel colours please as it is just so impractical for the person that receives them.
Simple Tote Bag
A DIY Make Up Bag
DIY Tool Bag (from a placemat)
Knitted headband
Simple mittens
Knitted Puppets Pattern
Tippet scarf
Scarf
Fantastically simple tote bag
Getting boxes to us
There are many ways to get your boxes to us. We can collect, you can bring them to our warehouse directly & you can also drop them to an Area Receiver – See map for drop off points
If you have more than 80 boxes and unable to take them to an Area Receiver please fill in our SHOEBOX PICK UP FORM by the 7th November 2025. We cannot arrange a collection after that date.
If you have under 80 shoeboxes we are unable to arrange a pick up. Please take them to your nearest Area Receiver or contact us asap.
Important – If you do not see an Area Collector who is near you please contact us as we generally know someone else you can take your boxes to.
Would you like to help us with our Family & Elderly Shoebox Appeal?
There are plenty of opportunities to help us with our Shoebox Appeal as a volunteer. For example, we need people to help:
- spread the word in their locality
- set up and manage collection points
- contact local schools, businesses and churches
- take photographs of the Christmas shoebox activities in your area
- encourage people to make small items of clothing to include in shoeboxes.
If you would like to get involved, please contact us telling us where you are based and how you can assist us.