There's plenty of love in Wanganui for the residents of earthquake-stricken Christchurch, if the number of "shoe boxes of love" is an indication. Around 250 of the gift-filled shoe boxes descended on Whanganui MP Chester Borrows's Wanganui office at the weekend. Mr Borrows said "shoe boxes of love" was an initiative launched by Taupo MP Louisa Upston to show the people of Christchurch that New Zealanders cared about them. "Each shoe box contains a gift - it might be babies' clothes, little toys, handcream, fancy tea-bags, or a book." Each box is sealed but many were decorated with paper, words and ribbons. Each one is marked as suitable for a particular age.
The shoe boxes were collected by Rotary Clubs throughout the country, and they will be responsible for getting the shoe boxes to Christchurch where they will be distributed. Mr Borrows said Wanganui's "shoe boxes of love" came from all parts of the community, although Wanganui Intermediate School and Jane Winstone Retirement Village had been particularly generous. Mr Borrows said Wanganui had produced the greatest number of shoe boxes in the country. He said he had been "overwhelmed" by the response. "It really captured people's imaginations. "But Wanganui has always donated generously, no matter what the cause is. I think Wanganui people should be very proud of themselves."
Updates on this project will be at http://www.rotaryresponse-christchurcheq.blogspot.com/
