Ramadan ShoeBox Appeal for Labourers | ExpatWoman.com
 

Ramadan ShoeBox Appeal for Labourers

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 13:34

- or as it's now called, the Box Appeal.

You may have heard of this appeal but if not I've put details below. I've just picked up some boxes for myself but I've got some extra so if you want to take part in the appeal and help the labourers then I'd be happy to drop off boxes to anybody living in Old Town/Downtown area. You have until September 15th to fill the box and return it to any Radisson or Park Inn hotel. Or if you fill it before August 28th I'll pick it up and take it back to the Radisson for you.

Just email me if you want a box(es): [email protected]

Further info:

The Box Appeal is organised by Radisson hotels and supported by the UAE Red Crescent, Radio 1 and Radio 2 amongst others. It involves filling a small box with essential everyday items (see below) then returning them to Radisson for distribution to labourers. Simple!

One of each of the following items goes in the box:
1 T-shirt
2 Cap
3 Disposable razor
4 Shaving cream
5 Aftershave
6 Talcum powder
7 Toothbrush
8 Toothpaste
9 Nail clippers
10 Small hand towel
11 Comb
12 Antibacterial soap
13 Shampoo

Empty boxes are available from any Radisson or Park Inn by Radisson hotel.

Small Box, Big Difference as the slogan says! :)

Lakshmi

254
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 10:58
Lulu has talcum powder,you can find it in the Perfume/deo section. ah perfect. thats where i planning to shop for these boxes anyhow! thanks! :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 10:51
this was the only item i couldn't find easily, i bought some baby powder anyway so will probably just put this in. Thought it might be nice to find some fragranced talc but I don't really think there is any difference between talc and baby powder anyway.....
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 10:51
Lulu has talcum powder,you can find it in the Perfume/deo section.
254
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 10:27
Can anyone let me know where to get the talcum powder from? Can only find ladies talc or Johnsons baby powder. TIA i didnt think i'd have to go on any wild hunts for the items. if i also dont find talc specifically, is it against the rules to just put in baby powder? (TBH, i didnt realize there was a difference)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 09:32
Thanks for The directions Denshort. I can see that it's right on Doha St, but obviously not accessible from there! It turns out that we are co-ordinating a collection through work, so I will save my Business Bay adventure for another day.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 09:06
Can anyone let me know where to get the talcum powder from? Can only find ladies talc or Johnsons baby powder. TIA
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 11:41
@ Lakshmi...thanx for the Somalia fund raiser info....just found some info on the UAE red crescent ....they apparently have a location next to the rashidiya police station where they are accepting donations of food, clothing and medicines...the number there is 04-2844482 and are open in the evnings from 9pm-11pm sun-thurs
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 10:27
Re Somalia: There's a fundraising iftar on August 26th at Qamardeen hotel in aid of the Red Crescent's relief effort for East Africa. Full info here: http://www.facebook.com/DubaiActs4EastAfricanDrought#!/event.php?eid=246793478685531
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 09:43
Can anyone tell me the location of the Radisson Blu Downtown? Wikimapia is showing it on al Khail Rd. Is this right? Thanks :-) I went yesterday afternoon. You need to be driving on the Hatta Road/44 towards Dubai, you take the exit that would normally allow you to turn right past Godolphin stables to Safa Park, before this there is a right hand turn into what looks like a load of construction into Business Bay. It is signposted 'Radisson Blu Downtown'. You then weave your way through Business Bay having to make a couple of judgement calls when the road splits a couple of times - just common sense really. Hope this helps, I made it there ok, was tentative some of the time but got there!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 09:29
I just read this in The National - more suggestions for donating clothes etc. - I LOVE the Take My Junk idea and thought it might be useful for EW: "How to donate: To donate used clothing that will be distributed for free or sold without profit, contact the following organisations: • The Red Crescent Authority, which is sending aid to Somalia. Locations for donations can be found by calling 800 733 or by logging on to www.rcuae.ae. • Dubai Land Department, in coordination with the charitable Beit Al Khair Society have launched a clothing-donation drive during Ramadan. Old clothes can be dropped off at the department’s headquarters on Bani Yas Road and they will be distributed to the needy in Asia and Africa. • Take My Junk UAE is a one-man mission to redistribute unwanted goods such as clothes and furniture to labourers and low-income families. Call 050 179 4045 for more details."
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 August 2011 - 19:06
Can anyone tell me the location of the Radisson Blu Downtown? Wikimapia is showing it on al Khail Rd. Is this right? Thanks :-)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 August 2011 - 18:50
Great info on Shoebox appeal...hope to go and pick up some boxes...in the mean time planning on being at the world trade center tomorrow night for the Adopt a camp...DS too plans to come and help out...another great site is www.volunteerindubai....chk their events page for more info....some good causes to support... Pls do share any info on how to support the famine in somalia...can one donate food,medicines,clothes etc?? any info is much appreciated... I'm sure if each one of us did our little bit of contributing...it sure would make a big difference:))
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 August 2011 - 18:09
Bumping this for the evening crowd. I've just been out to get the stuff to put in my boxes, and I have to say, I do think its quite an odd list of items. The talcum powder was very difficult to get and more geared towards women (implying that maybe it isn't widely used any more) and it seems odd that items such as deodrant and shower gel are not included, whereas aftershave is? Still, as Lakshmi says, they must know what is needed as the appeal has been running for a few years now. BTW, caps were easily available at Union Co-op Safa Park. Happy shopping everyone!
Anonymous (not verified)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 August 2011 - 13:33
I didn't know about it... but I want some boxes ... I will go to the hotel to collect some of them. thanks for sharing with us this real useful info. thanks again!
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 August 2011 - 10:47
thx, i go shopping and let you know about the number of packs i manage to get. The cap is kinda silly, anything else would work better, like a light scarf that they use underneath their hardhats. Anyways, I get it.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 August 2011 - 08:54
Hi Lakshmi Thanks for starting this thread and bringing it to our attention. We'll definitely be joining in. Thanks for your offer of boxes but its easier for me to get my own because of my location. PS. The official website does state that each item is required for the box http://gulfnews.com/radio2/the-box-appeal-1.851770
232
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 August 2011 - 08:50
Just to second what Green-ish says. Extras added into the box has the potential to cause problems if some recipients are getting more than others. There are other charities which will take used items, such as towels, in good condition, look at www.helpinghandsuae.com I did wonder about the caps as well. But I'm assuming that as the box appeal has been running for a few years now that Radisson have consulted with labourers over what items would be most useful to them.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 August 2011 - 07:01
Lakshmi, does it need to contain all of the listed items? (Like getting a cap may be difficult, and i hardly ever see workers wearing baseball caps anyways) Can some of the items be used but in very good condition? (t-shirt, towel) Can there be extra items, like little gifts? In the past it was always all new items exactly as described so that all recipients get basically the same thing. (eg - one new disp razor, not a pack of 6) Nothing extra, no food, no cash. Carrefour always has caps, usually hidden at the bottom of one of the men's clothing aisles. They do all wear their nice new caps for a while at least after the appeal. :D <em>edited by Green-ish on 17/08/2011</em>
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 August 2011 - 00:49
Lakshmi, does it need to contain all of the listed items? (Like getting a cap may be difficult, and i hardly ever see workers wearing baseball caps anyways) Can some of the items be used but in very good condition? (t-shirt, towel) Can there be extra items, like little gifts?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 19:40
I recommend anyone who can manage it get involved in the Adopt a Camp event, which I did several times. If you are easily upset, though, you might want to just help with the packing and avoid actually going to the camps - depending on which ones, the conditions are not for the faint-hearted. If you do go, I recommend bug-repellent. The first time I went, I came back covered in bites. And obviously, if there could ever be said to be an appropriate time to wear spaghetti straps and hotpants in Dubai in Ramadan, this is definitely not it...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 19:12
I've just signed up for the set up for Adopt a Camp on Thursday. Great as it means I can help out during the day and still have an early night! Still got boxes left for the labourers if anybody wants one :) (see first post on this thread)
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 16:33
from their facebook group: We'll be assembling the packages from 9pm to 3am and then going to the labour camps to distribute them. Join in whenever suits you. We're hoping to make at least 3000 packages to improve the lives of thousands of men. Dubai Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Adopt-a-Camp for this initiative as part of its Dubai Chamber Ramadan Festival at Dubai World Trade Centre and they’ve kindly given us the use of a massive hall at DWTC to do the packing. Insha’Allah, it should be a great night! One of my favourite things about the most recent Care Packages event is a remark made by volunteer, Perrin Abbas. She said that it “made her believe in humanity again”. Along with the amazing volunteers, feedback from the labour camps we’d helped is extremely touching. Men say that the kindness they experienced that day changed their lives. At the most basic level, due to our drive to make camps bed-bug and lice-free, they could finally get a full night’s rest. Before, when they’d get back after a long day of hard labour, they’d be up all night scratching away because of the bedbugs and lice. They said that peaceful sleep was the best gift we’d given them…that and the knowledge that there are people out there who care. You can bring your kids, family, friends, colleagues. It's a community event - Dubai at its best.
2362
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 16:32
do a quick search on facebook for them - they are very practical and hands on...giving packs etc. thursday night we will be assembling packs and then delivering them..they are hoping to make 3,000 packs on the night..
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 16:18
Hi, what's an adopt the camp event? Sounds interesting... I only knew "adopt a laborer" but that is more moral/psychological support than "packing packages"... Thanks for the info... lakshmi thanks so much for sharing. there's also an adopt a camp event this thursday in the halls at the world trade centre. making up packs... will be heading there at 9....
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 14:00
agreed - 9 pm on thursday after a full working week is tough going - we could probably go in pj's?! i think the spirit will get us through....hope to see you some of you there...am going with my girlfriends...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 13:55
I'll be there on Thu as well!!!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 13:42
I aiming to go to that too kelly - though 9pm is kind of my bedtime at the moment due to getting up early, not sure how long I'll last!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 13:36
lakshmi thanks so much for sharing. there's also an adopt a camp event this thursday in the halls at the world trade centre. making up packs... will be heading there at 9....
 
 

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