Bo’ness Christmas shoebox appeal returns – and organisers need your help
Christmas can be tough for many people, but if you also add the struggle of being homeless during the winter months, it’s likely the worst time of year that any person could endure.
According to the latest Scottish Government statistics, Falkirk bucked much of the national trend in 2025/26, with drops in live homelessness caseload, rough sleeping and households in temporary accommodation. The number of children in temporary accommodation also fell by almost half, from 198 to 100.
However, homelessness applications across the area rose by five per cent overall, compared with little change across Scotland. Challenges also remain in securing permanent housing and lowering the amount of time it takes to resolve cases.
With demand for homelessness support still high across the Falkirk area, local residents are being urged to give what they can as this year’s Bo’ness shoebox appeal at The Kidz Stop Nursery on Dean Road gets underway.
Sharon Gardiner, who works at the nursery and helps run the appeal, said: “During the summer being homeless must be bad, but in winter it must be horrific, that’s why we also include items like knitted hats, gloves and scarves in the boxes.”
She added: “They're talking about the weather being horrid this year, when I get up to go to work I hate going out in the cold, never-mind sitting in it constantly. Filling a shoe box can mean so much to somebody living on the street.”
Volunteers have asked Bo’ness locals, Falkirk residents and people living across the region to give what they can, and even if it’s not in a shoebox, all donations provide support to the annual campaign.
Sharon who lives in Bo’ness, said: “If people have got a shoe box, great, if not, then whatever they can offer, whether it’s a pack of sanitary towels, toothpaste, or a packet of biscuits, everything is gratefully received. If they give us something, we can buy extra stuff to make up the boxes.”
Now in its sixth year, Sharon has been involved with the project for around five of them. She says that being aware that there’s always someone worse off, is what inspired her to join the shoebox appeal.
She said: “There’s always somebody worse off than you. It’s easy to moan about things in your life. My husband and I, we didn’t really do birthdays or Christmas but we would go away to a Radisson or a Hilton every January when it’s miserable outside.
“I would walk past all these folks sitting on the streets and feel terrible, because I’m heading to my life of luxury and they’re out there with nothing, so I always gave them something. Any treats in the hotel room, I’d take straight out to them. If I only had a couple of pounds, I’d give them that. Money for the dog, a chippy, a bottle of water, whatever I could. Every time.”
Last year’s appeal collected enough donations to fill 50 shoeboxes, 25 for men and 25 for women. The boxes were then delivered to the Edinburgh Support Hub, which distributes them to those in need. Each contained items such as hats, gloves, socks, toothpaste, a toothbrush and deodorant, plus a treat and a foil blanket.
It’s not just adults who are involved, children at The Kidz Stop are also invited to fill the boxes, helping them to learn about the appeal as they do.
Sharon, aged 48, said: “We’re also an out of school club, so when we’re doing stuff like filling the boxes, the kids take it in and want to get involved. We’re not preaching to them as we’re doing it, we’re explaining it and they pay attention. I think it’s better than just telling them that people live on the street.
“It’s easy to forget how lucky we are, even on our worst day, a lot of folk would love to live our lives and it’s good for the kids to learn about that.”
Volunteers are asking people to donate whatever they can, from food and snacks to toiletries, jackets and hats, so the group can fill as many shoeboxes as possible this Christmas.
Donations can be handed in to The Kidz Stop Nursery between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, until December 18.