The book is the idea of Operations Director Ian Whiteway, who in 2005,
set up the scheme sending parcels to troops.
Ian said, “With the help of United Press we are putting together a book,
funds from which will go directly to help our forces. We are looking for poems
and short stories from people all over the UK . You don’t have to be directly
connected to the services and your entry does not have to be on a military
subject.“
Operation Shoebox UK is an entirely voluntary organisation, with a UK
wide network of over 40 regional co-ordinators, they have over 22,000
supporters all making and helping to provide goodie boxes to be shipped out to
Afghanistan .
“The boxes contain treats and gifts the troops could never get out
there,” said Ian, Operations Director at the organisation. “It is a huge morale
boost to our boys and girls, the general public probably don’t even realise how
amazing it is to receive a shoebox from a stranger, someone who cares enough to
take the time to make up a shoebox.”
The competition will be split into categories and judged by a professional
panel; winning entries will be published in the book, due out in time for
Christmas 2013.
The competition is open to all UK residents and the categories are:-
under 12’s; under 18’s; over 18’s. Three prizes of £100 for the
categories have been kindly donated. The winner of each age group will
receive the following:- Under 12’s £100 for Argos ; under 18’s £100 for
Primark and over 18’s £100 for Marks and Spencer.
Full terms and conditions with details of how to enter can be found on: operationshoebox.co.uk or unitedpress.co.uk.
If you want to enter now you can e-mail your short story or poem (any
length) to info@unitedpress.co.uk Please put ‘”Shoebox Book” at the top of your entry and you must specify
which category you are entering for:- under 12’s; under 18’s; over 18’s.
Or post your entry to United Press, Admail 3735, London , EC1B 1JB . You
must include your full name and postal address including postcode. The
closing date is February 28th 2013.
