Shoebox Full of Love Homeless Appeal

19/12/2025

Happy Friday everyone!

With six days to Christmas we have one final request for some help…

The wonderful Andy who runs the Black Cat bar in Parr Street in the city centre is putting on an event to help homeless families on Boxing Day.

He’s fundraising at the moment and the more he raises, the better event he can put on! The plan is to feed the guests as well as provide gifts and entertainment.

We’ve had a lot of requests on how people outside the drop off point areas can help, and this would be the perfect way ❤️

Andy has also asked if there happen to be any entertainers that would be willing to donate their time for this event on the afternoon of Boxing Day. So please let either us or Andy Black Cat - Bar & Bottleshop know if you think you could help!

Thank you all so much as always! 💚 🎅

Iʼm raising money to Feed homeless families in Liverpool this Boxing Day. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

03/12/2025

Thank you all so much for your donations. We are incredibly grateful and it’s overwhelming the amount of love and thought that goes into the gifts . It takes us a few weeks this side of things to get every gift to the right people and I promise we will give you a full update of what you made happen and who you helped . In the meantime , if you are a drop off point / a workplace collection or a school collection , we have tried to make contact with as many of you as we could today to arrange picks ups and ask for a very rough breakdown of your boxes ( number of adult male , adult females , teenagers , children ). This helps us work out how best to allocate and share it out fairly . If you haven’t heard from us please message in if you have a collection and we can take it from there . We are overwhelmed by your kindness as always . The gifts, the hand made cards and pictures that the children have made are just beautiful . It’s an absolute honour and a privilege to be part of this . Will update you all in the next few weeks. Thank you all again ❤️💕 ###xx

02/12/2025

Just a few hours left to go until our deadline . There are still a few pubs open now accepting collections until they close today (2nd December ). No time to make up a shoebox , that’s absolutely fine . Single items welcome . Selection boxes / toiletries/ new toys / new warm clothing eg gloves / hats. Every single donation makes a difference.

🎄Fiveways pub, Childwall. 🎄
🎄The Hare & Hounds , Huyton 🎄
🎄The Three Stags, Bebington 🎄
🎄The Black Cat, Parr Street 🎄
🎄 Clairville Weatherspoons , Liscard 🎄
🎄Coach & Horses , Maghull 🎄

Come on Merseyside let’s do this . Thank you to every single person who has helped. It takes our breath away every year when we see what you guys make happen. Could not be any prouder . In Merseyside we don’t leave our people behind 💕 ######xx

02/12/2025

To all our fabulous drop offs . If you are able to message in and let us know approximate number of boxes / bags for
- children
- adult male
- adult female
We would be so grateful for this as it helps us massively to co-ordinate and get things moved faster. We are so grateful to you all for letting us take over your businesses and workspace . We couldn’t do this without you all. Thank you so much xx

02/12/2025

🎄🎄LAST DAY TO DROP OFF🎄🎄

Do you want to make a difference to a child in your city this Christmas who is unlikely to get a Christmas present without your help ? Or a Christmas gift for someone in your city who is homeless . It’s more than a gift , it’s a message of hope.

Today is our closing date (2nd December ). Some of our drops offs are open late .

If you don’t have time to make up a gift bag / shoebox , single items are welcome too.

Ideas for single items
Adults - gloves / hat / scarf/ selection box / book / crossword puzzle and pen

Kids - toys / arts and crafts / hair accessories/ selection boxes

All of the details of where to drop off are in the pinned post

Thank you so much. Let the magic begin. In Merseyside we don’t leave our people behind ❤️

01/12/2025

✨ ONE DAY TO GO ✨

The deadline for this years appeal is tomorrow!

Every single box makes a difference and we’d love to be able to meet the demand this year 🤞.

As always the demand has increased, with more people struggling this year than last, more people who will have an uncertain Christmas.

If anyone reading this could make a last minute box or gift bag then you would be making someone’s Christmas much brighter. Our drop off points are all in a pinned post on our profile.

We always struggle meeting the demand for adult male boxes, so these in particular will always find a very grateful home!

Thank you all for your continued support each year - we couldn’t do a thing without you ❤️

30/11/2025

This is wonderful Ryan ❤️

You may have seen him on our page before, he’s supported us for 4 years now! Ryan champions the Shoebox Full of Love Appeal at PSS UK, encouraging everyone to donate and helping to run the organisation of the appeal on their end, helped by the fantastic Tessa Cain 😍.

Ryan is passionate about ending homelessness, and every year he writes something to explain how important this cause is. This video is his message for this year.

One of our favourite parts of the appeal each year is seeing Ryan’s unwavering dedication. We love going to collect his donations and share in the absolute joy the appeal brings to Ryan and his friends 🥰

Our deadline is Tuesday 2nd December - you still have time to make a difference and donate! 🎄

29/11/2025

Meet Sarah and Lauren from your Shoebox team!

Today we were invited to go and visit the Black Cat in Parr Street, one of our drop offs, owned by Andy Scott who has supported our appeal for many years!

Not only was the pizza amazing, but the drinks included in the bottomless brunch were brilliant - we would definitely recommend visiting! They also have two other Black Cat bars, one on Smithdown Road and one on Rose Lane - both of which are also our drop off points 🥰.

They have a Christmas tree with the donations they’ve received so far taking pride of place in the bar ❤️.

28/11/2025

5 DAYS TO GO!

34% of children in Merseyside live in poverty

24% of households in Liverpool are living in income deprived conditions

Around 3200 people will be homeless in Merseyside this Christmas, including 1,400 children

We need all the help we can get with the appeal this year. If there is an opportunity for you to create a shoebox or gift bag this weekend then you really would improve someone’s Christmas this year.

It’s also a wonderful thing to do, and has become many of our supporters favourite Christmas tradition! ✨

Deadline: Tuesday 2nd December

Thank you! ❤️

24/11/2025

Looking for inspiration for items to put in your shoebox? 👀

Here are some ideas from Home and Bargain ❤️

22/11/2025

Do you want to make a real difference this Christmas ? To a child in YOUR OWN city who is unlikely to receive a Christmas gift without your help. Or a homeless adult in your city , with nothing but the hope that your gift brings to them.

Merseyside let’s do this 🙌 . Closing date 2nd DECEMBER. We are against the clock . All you need to do is make up a shoebox or a gift bag with small gifts for Christmas , and label it with the category it’s for and an approximate age if it’s for a child. Take it to one of our fabulous local businesses on the list below who will store it for us . And we will do the rest . And we will make sure it gets to the people in this city who need it the most . If you are stuck for ideas of what to include, have a look through the photo albums on our page . And if you are flexible with who you’d like it to go to , we’ve had more requests this year than ever , for adult males and adult teenage males. Still desperately need all the other categories too but if you are undecided a male box would be so helpful .

Each year the number of people who need your help increases. It’s heartbreaking as we always hope that life gets easier for some people , not harder. Sadly, we have had more requests for help than ever before. But we KNOW you can do this . Because you do EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR . Let’s smash it. Share and share and share some more . In Merseyside we don’t leave our people behind 💕

All our love ,
Vorny, Sarah and Lauren ❤️❤️❤️


🎁DROP OFFS🎁

DROP OFF DEADLINE: TUESDAY 2ND DECEMBER

🎄AIGBURTH🎄
Milo Lounge:
Address: Lark Lane, Aigburth, L17 8UU
Open: Mon-Sun 9am-11pm
Box Type: Any

🎄ALLERTON🎄
Black Cat Rose Lane:
Address: 102 Rose Lane, Allerton, L18 8AG
Open: Mon-Thurs 2pm-8pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-8pm, Sun 12pm-8pm
Box Type: Any

🎄BEBINGTON🎄
The Three Stags:
Address: Church Road, Bebington, CH63 3EA
Open: 7 Days a Week 11am-11pm
Box Type: Any

🎄BIRKENHEAD🎄
Wirral Ark:
Address: 7 Sidney St, Birkenhead, CH41 1BF
Open: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm
Box Type: Adults

Ainsley Gommon Architects:
Address: 1 Price Street, Birkenhead, CH41 6JN
Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Box type: Any

🎄BIRKENHEAD🎄
Koala North West
Address: Woodchurch Lane, Birkenhead, CH42 9PH
Open: Mon-Fri, 9am-4:30pm
Box Type: Children

🎄BOOTLE🎄
Excel Housing:
Address: Unit 6B Vesty Business Park, Bootle, L30 1NY86
Open: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm
Box Type: Adults

🎄CHESTER🎄
Phoenix Health:
Address: 17 Telford Court, Chester Gates, Chester, CH1 6LT
Open: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm
Box Type: Any

🎄CHILDWALL🎄
The Fiveways Pub:
Address: 179 Queens Drive, Childwall, L15 6XS
Open: Mon-Sun 8am-12am
Box Type: Any

🎄CITY CENTRE🎄
The Black Cat:
Address: 25 Parr Street, L1 4JN
Open: Mon-Thurs 2pm-12am, Fri-Sat 12pm-2am, Sun 12pm-12am
Box Type: Any

🎄FAZAKERLEY🎄
Mobility Living Centre:
Address: 560 Longmoor Lane, Fazakerley, L10 9LA
Open: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
Box Type: Any

🎄FORMBY🎄
Formby Swimming Lane:
Address: Elbow Lane, Formby, L37 4ED
Open: Mon-Fri 6:30am-9:30pm, Sat-Sun 8am-4pm
Box Type: Any

🎄GARSTON🎄
The Country Kitchen Sandwich Shop:
Address: 168 Garston Old Road, Garston, L19 9AQ
Open: Mon-Fri 8am-1:30pm
Box Type: Any

🎄HUYTON🎄
Dogs Trust:
Address: Whiston Lane, Huyton, L36 6HP
Open: Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun 12pm-4pm
Box Type: Dog toys, baskets, food, treats, blankets and towels - NO pillows or duvets

🎄LISCARD🎄
The Clairville Wetherspoons
Address: 48 Wallasey Road, Liscard, CH45 4NW
Open: 7 days a week, 8am-12am
Box Type: Any

🎄LITHERLAND🎄
Halle’s Hub:
Address: 8 Carr Meadow Hey, Netherton, L30 2NZ
Open: Tue-Fri 10am-4pm
Box Type: Children and Teenagers

🎄MAGHULL🎄
Coach and Horses:
Address: Liverpool Road N, L31 2HP
Open: Sun-Thurs 12pm-11pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-12am
Box Type: Any

🎄NETHERLEY 🎄
Lee Park Golf Club (Stablers Catering): Address: Childwall Valley Road, Netherley, L27 3YA
Open: 7 Day a Week 10am-4pm
Box Type: Any

🎄NORRIS GREEN🎄
Ellergreen Community Centre:
Address: Ellergreen Road, Norris Green, L11 2RY
Open: Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm
Box Type: Any

🎄PENNY LANE🎄
Harrison Stringfellows Architecture:
Address: 43 Penny Lane, L18 1DE
Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Box Type: Any

🎄TARBOCK GREEN🎄
Hare and Hounds Pub:
Address: Cronton Road, Tarbock Green, L35 1QJ
Open: 7 Days a Week 11am-11pm
Box Type: Any

🎄TOXTETH🎄
Bridge 2:
Address: 36 Windsor Street, Toxteth, L8 1XF
Open: Mon-Fri 10am-3pm
Box Type: Any

🎄WAVERTREE🎄
Black Cat Smithdown:
Address: 174 Smithdown Road, L15 3JR
Open: Mon-Thurs 9am-7pm, Fri 9am-7pm, Sat-Sun 10am-7pm-11pm
Box Type: Any

🎄WIDNES🎄
The Woodlands Bar and Grill:
Address: Liverpool Road, WA8 7XU
Open Mon-Thursday 11:30am-11pm, Fri-Sat 9:30am-12:00am
Box Type: Any