Black Isle grandmother boxes clever with roomful of gifts of love for Blythswood those in need

A FORTROSE grandma has sent 355 Christmas boxes to children living in poverty.

As part of the annual Blythswood charity shoebox appeal, Ethel Urquhart has managed to send more boxes this year, than any other year she has been collecting.

Mrs Urquhart, who says she does not want any praise for what she is doing, makes up the boxes of essential items as a hobby, and it was thanks to the many people that helped that she is able to do so many.

Mrs Urquhart (78), a retired care home worker, said that she worked all year round making up boxes for those who are living in poverty.

"I really don't think that I am doing anything exceptional –I am just making up these boxes with the help of many people and then I am passing them on."

She said: "It is a hobby and I do it because it gives directly to the people who need them. I know that they really do make a difference."

Mrs Urquhart who has been making the boxes for more than a decade said she packed the shoe boxes with essential items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, a facecloth, a notebook, pens and colouring in books as well as underwear - but that she also liked to put in a hand knitted treat.

She said: "I have been knitting moccasins and putting a pair in every box that I can. People also give me things so I can put them in the boxes.

"I really don't think that I am doing anything exceptional –I am just making up these boxes with the help of many people and then I am passing them on.

"I remember the first time I made 18 boxes and thinking that I had really achieved something."

Mrs Urquhart now gets a delivery of shoeboxes to her house in order to be able to make up the boxes, she then decorates them in Christmas wrapping paper that is donated to her.

She said: "I have been knitting the moccasins for some time and I was thinking I might run out of wool and I would have to go to Inverness to buy some, when a woman offered me some wool. She arrived with a bin bag full of wool – and that has really helped me going."

A friend in Kelso also helped by making 48 pairs of moccasins to put into boxes.

And with this year's shipment already picked up, Mrs Urquhart has already started on the 2021 boxes.

Related: Ross man inspired by 'amazing experience' gets stuck in to shoebox appeal

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