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Children in need across the kingdom look set to receive some merry cheer this festive season with the help of Operation Christmas Child Bahrain.
The donation drive, run by a group of volunteers working under the label of ‘A Box of Goodness’, urges people to support the cause with a variety of new toys.
They will be distributed among less fortunate boys and girls, aged 12 and under, as well as children receiving treatment in cancer wards at local hospitals.
“We work throughout the year organising many different initiatives,” explained Sri Lankan Malay Miranthi Dole better known as Miro, who is the founder of the initiative.
“Our bi-monthly group birthday parties for the children of Al Sanabel Orphan Care Society is a project we have been doing since 2016 and it brings us much joy to see the children happy and enjoying themselves.
“Regrettably, during the pandemic, we have not been able to organise events.
“When our long-term volunteer Kelly Kirkpatrick suggested the idea for a Christmas project, it was a perfectly good solution to share joy with orphaned, needy and sick children in Bahrain.
“We have previously also donated toys to the Salmaniya Medical Complex’s (SMC) children’s cancer ward and spread happiness this way.”
People have been requested to donate 100 to 500-piece puzzles, activity books, board games, plush toys, blankets, figurines and dolls, arts and craft supplies and more.
Kelly, a yoga instructor as well as a health and wellness coach, used to organise similar events during her days living in Canada and is excited to be helping children in Bahrain too.
“We hope to provide every child in need with a gift and help make their holiday season magical,” said Kelly, a mother-of-two from Saar.
“We hope the gifts will provide physical and emotional benefits to the children in the cancer ward and create a positive impact to their families.
“This is also a fantastic way to teach our children what Christmas is all about. I take my daughters to the store and ask them to pick out what they wish to have and then we donate it to those in need.”
The ‘A Box for Goodness’ caring concept has no financial funding and simply aims to help instil a habit of sharing blessings with the less fortunate.
“It started off as a simple exercise to inspire the habit of giving,” said Miro. “We encouraged people to use a box and keep adding one item to it on a daily basis so that at the end of the month, they had a box of goodness to donate to someone in need.
“Since launching in October 2016, the initiative has grown by leaps and bounds and we are happy to share more happiness and goodness with those who need it the most. We aid both locals and expat workers without any discrimination. However, we also aim to help the most deserving and in need.”
Miro and her big-hearted group of volunteers have run food drives during Ramadan, donated food, toiletries and clothing to the needy during the pandemic, organised birthday parties with cake and gifts for orphans, supported the less fortunate living in villages and participated in beach clean-ups.
They collect recyclable material and take it to the Bahrain Association for the Parents and Friends of the Disabled in Adliya. The funds from the sale then go towards purchasing wheelchairs for the needy.
Meanwhile, every winter season, they collect clothing and linen to be donated too.
“We have previously partnered with the Jawad Group and St Christopher’s Junior School to provide us with a public space and audience to attract more donations,” added Miro.
For the toy drive, donors can drop off their contributions to the British Dental Association and Flip and Fun in Saar. Contact Kelly on 39303580 to arrange drop-offs. Toys do not have to be wrapped.
For details, follow @aboxofgoodness on Instagram.
