Dubai: The month-long annual charity campaign, ‘The Box Appeal’, is back for the ninth year with the aim of delivering 18,000 boxes of essential items to underprivileged workers before October 15.
The campaign, which is organised by Rezidor’s Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson hotels, will be followed by distributing the boxes to Dubai Municipality workers.
“The appeal aims to give essential items to everyday workers, and we do this by distributing boxes to our local communities such as schools, local offices and suppliers who fill them with 12 essential items. These in turn then get distributed to everyday workers as gratitude for their daily hard work,” said Bob Busman, Regional Responsible Business Coordinator Middle East for the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.
The boxes are filled with necessities, including T-shirt, cap, disposable razors, shaving cream, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, talcum powder, small hand towel, comb, antibacterial soap, and shampoo.
“Since 2008, Rezidor’s Box Appeal annual campaigns managed to reach and make a difference to the lives of over 108,000 people from all over the Middle East,” said Busman.
The campaign collected 23,000 boxes in the Middle East alone last year, and aims to outdo their previous record in 2016.
Boxes can be picked up at all Radisson Blu Hotel branches and Park Inn by Radisson hotels in the UAE, as well as different communities across Dubai.
Volunteers from the Dubai Mums Helping Hands social media group are also lending a hand by distributing boxes in three communities — JBR, Arabian Ranches and Mudon.
Volunteer Stephanie Sutherland told Gulf News the group has distributed over 600 boxes by spreading the word on social media. “The goal is to bring the boxes to the hands of people instead of having them visit the hotels in order to make the process easier. We have each put out a pile of boxes in front of our door for residents in the community to pick up and contribute to the cause,” she said.
Sutherland has also distributed boxes at her children’s school, pointing out the queues of excited parents and children who were eager to participate by filling a box and dropping it back at the school later that week.
To contribute, please visit https://m.facebook.com/TheBoxAppeal/
