Staff at Tilly Bailey & Irvine Law Firm have been helping Teesside and Middlesbrough Philanthropic Foundation with their annual Shoe Box Appeal for various local groups across Teesside.
The idea behind the campaign was to gather shoeboxes containing a raft of different gifts, before distributing them to local areas all in support of vulnerable people.
Boxes were donated to the Moses Project in Stockton who provide Christmas lunches to the homeless and vulnerable on Teesside, and to local charity A Way Out in Stockton, which offers support to vulnerable women in our community.
Andy Preston, founder and chairman of Teesside Philanthropic Foundation, said “thank you to everyone at TBI Law for their generous support of our Christmas Shoe Box Appeal. These will be shared out amongst homeless Teessiders via our amazing partners to local charities A Way Out and, on Christmas Day itself, The Moses Project in Stockton.
“The Foundation is all about generous local people and businesses joining forces to help Teessiders who really do need and deserve our help. We can’t change the world; we can’t even change Teesside, but together, we can make a tangible difference to the lives of some very disadvantaged people. Thank you so much for going out of your way to help us spread a little Christmas spirit.”
The shoebox campaign started four years ago when Middlesbrough Council’s ‘In out of the Cold’ event ended with 100 shoeboxes being provided. This year, 512 boxes were collected, with help from patrons and supporters of the local charity.
Teams from Tilly Bailey & Irvine’s Stockton and Wynyard offices came together to help make this happen, the boxes containing gifts such as warm clothes, toiletries, sanitary items and Christmas cards.
TBI Partner Nicola Dalzell said “we have a tight bond with the Tees Valley community. The appeal is a lovely way to give something to a number of local causes that will brighten up the Christmas of many individuals that need the support most of all.”
The firm also raised almost £100 for Save the Children UK thanks to staff participating in the annual Christmas Jumper Day on 14 December.