Special Gifts for Troops in Afghanistan
Mon, 25 January 2010
Entry students studying Skills for Working Life in Business and Retail, held a coffee morning to raise funds to provide gift boxes for soldiers out in Afghanistan. One student in particular was struggling to cope with her brother’s recent departure to Afghanistan. Laura Day asked if something special could be arranged for her brother and his fellow troops to keep them in good spirits whilst away from home.
The Event was not only inspired by Laura’s brother, but a special interest had been taken in the subject of war when the class had visited the Imperial War Museum, read the Private Peaceful Story and then went to see it performed live at the Lowrey Centre.
Prizes were donated to be included in the raffle and cakes and biscuits were sold. In total £210 was raised in order to buy supplies to stock up the shoe boxes. A special thanks to Asda for giving the team reduced prices on toiletries and luxury goods and Boots in Ashton for providing the wrapping paper for the shoe boxes. The team ended up with such a large amount of products that they had to mass produce boxes to contain the gifts. The students formed a production line, filling the boxes with essential items including sun lotion and shower gel at one end and non essential products including chocolate, to ensure there was a wide range of goodies in each box.
The remainder of the money raised was donated to the British Legion. Special thanks to all the staff who helped to organise the event, including Lesley Mason, Kevin Downing, Jane Topping, John Rogan and David Barrington.