I don't work or volunteer for Team Hope , but I do take part in the Christmas Shoebox Appeal most years—and it’s a tradition that goes way back. I started packing shoeboxes as a child in the 90s and 2000s, and I'd get so excited seeing the leaflets in my local church. Filling the box with toys, a little note, and pictures gave me a huge sense of joy. Now that I’m older, nothing has changed—I still get that same wonderful feeling of purpose and excitement. I especially love finding items in my local charity shop. Digging through all the pre-loved toys and clothes to find the perfect gift is half the fun! This year, I'm aiming to complete two boxes: one for a boy aged five to nine and another for a girl aged ten to fourteen . The Mission: Spreading Hope to Disadvantaged Children These shoeboxes are sent to children in poor parts of the world who are living in disadvantaged circumstances. For many, this might be the only gift they receive all year, making that small box a ma...
January A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This is a timeless classic about a scrooge who hates Christmas, who in the end after meeting a few ghosts has a new found love for life and for Christmas. Faith: In search of Greater Glory in Sport by Gerard Gallagher This book is very well written. I could feel the topic of religion is very important on these peoples lives. Even the people who don't consider themselves religious, I felt were thinking some bit about religion. I did feel it focused a bit too much on people who played GAA sports. I suppose it's OK given that GAA is our national sports but not everyone in Ireland is into GAA. I suppose I felt it could have been more evenly spread out among all the sports mentioned. It was a very good read nonetheless. February The House of my mother by Shari Franke. 8 passengers was a YouTube channel I watched around 2018 to 2020 or thereabout. Little did I know what was going on behind the smiles for the camera and se...