29th March 2012

DORCHESTER: Shops needed to help Support our Soldiers

Shops in South and West Dorset are being asked to offer themselves as drop-off points for donations to armed services staff serving overseas.

The Support our Soldiers (SOS) charity is collecting filled shoeboxes to be sent to those serving in the armed forces – many in Afghanistan.

The boxes typically contain sweet or savoury snacks, toiletries (especially skin creams and chapsticks), books and small pocket-sized games.

Local organiser Gloria Ashwell, from Charminster, near Dorchester, is keen to find local shops, or other suitable places, which can collected the filled boxes from local people.

“I very much need shops to volunteer to be ‘drop off’ points by accommodating a bin or large box, which I am happy to supply.

“At present the Reiker shoe shop in Weymouth, and Littlemore Hardware are ‘drop off’ points for donated items, which can be individual items, or filled shoeboxes.

“Ideally, I would like to have more shops in Dorchester, Portland and Bridport and/or surrounding villages to volunteer to become ‘drop off’ points to make it as easy as possible for people to donate,” said Gloria.

She is also asking for the filled shoeboxes not to be sealed as they have to be checked to ensure no prohibited items are included.

Each of the boxes are posted to named individuals, and sent each month to Afghanistan with the cooperation and approval of the Ministry of Defence and the British Forces Postal service.

Serving personnel, whatever their rank or wherever they serve, can apply themselves to receive a box, or they can be recommended by a senior officer. Many of the men and women who receive them have little or no other post.

For further information Gloria can be contacted on 01305 250826 or via email on [email protected].uk. The national website for the charity is www.supportoursoldiers.co.uk

DORCHESTER: Shops needed to help Support our Soldiers

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