Shoebox Christmas – DRIVE ORGANIZERS

Decorated Holiday Shoeboxes filled with basic personal care items are handed to American and International mariners arriving at Port Everglades. 100,000 Seafarers from all over the world come into Port Everglades annually. Many come from impoverished countries where the only way to provide is to sign year long contracts to work at sea – it’s lonely & dangerous work. Many mariners are also thousands of miles from home during the holidays and will not see family/ friends/ home for months. These small gifts, this surprising gesture of caring mean so much to this invisible and forgotten population. Description of Volunteer Tasks Volunteers organize a drive for all or some of 12 – 14 personal care items listed on a provided “shopping list”. Some of the steps would include: 1- Secure permission to place a collection box and sign at a secure and highly visible area within your school, business, church, club or other high traffic area. 2- Post a sign and list of items you wish to collect. 3- Post beginning and end dates for your drive. 4- Arrange to promote the drive via church bulletins, emails, posted signs and announcements. 5- Consider contacting local stores/ businesses for donations. 6- Arrange to have donations delivered to Seafarers’ House “Shoebox World”.