A GROUP of Newport Brownies helped to pack around 50 shoeboxes for charity this week.

On Wednesday, the Rhiwderin Brownie group got together to pack and wrap as many shoeboxes as possible for the Street Life Sarnies (SLS) charity.

The charity, which is based in Chepstow has been appealing for people, or groups, to help with their Christmas shoebox collection for the past few months.

All shoeboxes that are packed with supplies such as toothbrushes, chocolate, and woolly gloves and hats will be taken to SLS.

The boxes will then be distributed to a variety of homeless charities across South Wales, including The Wallich and Eden Gate in Newport.

The appeal officially ends today, but Zoe Engstrom, one of the leaders of Rhiwderin Brownies, said it was important the issue of homelessness was raised to the 24 girls at the group.

She said: “We started out helping SLS as it is part of the Brownie promise. Part of it is to help out the community.

“We saw advertising on Facebook for SLS who were doing the shoebox donation and I say it and I thought it was such a good thing for the girls to do.

“They need to be aware that not everyone is as fortunate as they are and it’s a nice easy thing to coordinate as well. We’ve had lots of shops helping out with shoeboxes and parents have been so generous,” Ms Engstrom added.

One of the representatives for SLS who attended the event, Sharon Dubber, said that the charity is hoping for more donations across Newport, as most of the donations come from either Monmouthshire or Bristol.

Claire Day, the woman who set up SLS, thanked the Brownies for their donations.

She said: “We are on the third year of the campaign supporting for the SLS cause. Btownies, Beavers and Scouts across South Wales have been amazing supporting the shoebox appeal.

“It’s great to see children being about caring for others.”

For more information about SLS about donating or volunteering, visit streetlifesarnies.org