United Way Women’s Legacy has launched the “From Our Heart to Yours” Shoebox Project and is asking the community to gather empty shoeboxes, decorate them and fill them with personal care items for women and children living in homeless shelters. Shoeboxes may be dropped off at the United Way Coweta County office, 61 Hospital Rd., through Feb. 7. The shoeboxes will be delivered to homeless shelters in the metro Atlanta area on Valentine’s Day. As part of the United Way Women’s Legacy Family Shelter Initiative, the goal of the Shoebox Project is to increase awareness of homeless women and children.

“Homeless women and children are part of the homeless population that we often don’t see,” said Cristel Mayo, director of United Way Women’s Legacy. “It is amazing how much a simple gift or note of encouragement helps these women—especially on Valentine’s Day—by letting them know that they are valued and not forgotten.”

United Way Women’s Legacy encourages individuals to get together and have a “shoebox party” to decorate and fill the boxes and learn more about issues affecting homeless women and children. Last year, United Way Women’s Legacy collected 3,372 shoeboxes of personal care items in the first “From Our Hearts to Yours” Shoebox Project. This year, the goal is to collect 5,000 shoeboxes to distribute to 46 homeless shelters that house women and children.

How to help
Fill a shoebox, either cardboard or plastic, with a combination of personal care items such as toothpaste and deodorant. To view a list of requested items, visit unitedwayatlanta.org/womenslegacy. Drop your shoebox off at United Way’s Coweta through Feb. 7. You can volunteer to help sort and pack shoeboxes for distribution to area shelters by calling United Way 211.

For more information on participating in this year’s Shoebox Project or becoming a member of United Way Women’s Legacy, contact Tina Darby, office manager for United Way of Coweta, at 770-254-8497, e-mail cmayo@unitedwayatlanta.org or call Cristel Mayo at 404-527-3539.

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