Macclesfield people may be in lockdown but their wish to contribute to support people in need is as strong as ever. Throughout the year, many local groups collect items to fill Rotary Shoe Boxes. This photograph, taken just before the lockdown, shows the latest filled shoeboxes provided by the parishioners of St Oswald’s Church, Bollington.

Last year, 245 Rotary Shoe Boxes were delivered to the International Aid Trust by The Rotary Club of Macclesfield Castle who wish to express thanks to the parents and children from St Oswald’s Praise and Play Group and St Oswald’s RiCH group, Macclesfield Eye Society and the Ladies of Macclesfield Castle Inner Wheel for their generosity in filling the boxes.

The boxes will be sent via The International Aid Trust to Eastern Europe for those in need in Romania, Belarus, Ukraine, Albania, and Kosovo.
This next delivery will bring the total number of boxes delivered from this Rotary Club to over 1300 with contributions from Hurdsfield Primary School, Kettleshulme Primary School, Macclesfield Academy, Calvary Church, Belong Charity, individual Macclesfield residents and the Rotary Club.

Rotarian Ken Newton who organises the collection said: “This is a tremendous effort from so many local groups. The Rotary Club is delighted to partner with these local groups to collect the Shoeboxes to send to people in countries where these items are much needed”.