People from across the kingdom are being urged to join a campaign aimed at celebrating labourers in Bahrain.
The unregistered, not-for-profit charity champions, OneHeartBahrain, has launched a shoebox appeal for the cause. Individuals can fill the boxes with useful items, which will be distributed at different camps on Sunday, marking Labour Day.
“Labourers make great sacrifices – not only in terms of their productive efforts but also in terms of the life they leave behind in their home country, working hard to provide for those they care about,” said Birthe van der Heijden, the social strategist and meditation teacher who founded the OneHeartBahrain community driven group.
“This is why we wish to reach out to them and make them feel as part of our extended family.
“Besides the shoebox, we will also provide them with a warm meal. The process of giving and sharing, both gifts and food, helps to bring us a little closer together as one family.
“We recommend that people fill the boxes so that each and every labourer will be pleasantly surprised by the generous content. We hope to raise 100 boxes.”
People have been requested to add products such as toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, soap, deodorant, hand cream, Vaseline, a hair comb and nail clippers. Long shelf-life food such as canned products, spices, masala, small bags of rice, lentils, chickpeas and snacks are also welcome along with pens and notebooks, games, socks and more.
Donations can be dropped off at Fitness 365 in Janabiya, which also acts as an art and craft space for special children, who will decorate the shoeboxes before distribution. Items will be packed there as well.
“We want to honour both the labour and special abilities community by making them come together under the same campaign,” added Ms Van der Heijden.
“The special abilities children will be decorating the shoeboxes to make the gift presentation even more special for labourers.
“This is a lovely opportunity for the children to give back to another community, and to have the chance to creatively express themselves for a shared cause.
“We hope to create a memorable impression on labourers on the day that honours and commemorates their contributions to the global economy.”
Closing date and time for shoebox donations is today, 3pm.
For details, follow @oneheartbahrain on Instagram.
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