Blythswood Care Shoe Box woman honoured: 'Each box delivers a smile'
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A WOMAN who has helped fill shoeboxes of hope for more than 21 years has been honoured by Keith Rotary Club.
Mary McGregor has co-ordinated the Blythswood Care shoebox effort in Keith in that time, inspiring many others to get involved in support of the charity.
Since the first appeal in 1993, Blythswood Care has sent more than 2.5 million boxes, each one an "expression of your care and kindness towards a stranger in need".
Mary has been integral in sending thousands of boxes from Keith to the appeal each year.
They are filled with small items such as toiletries, stationery, and clothing, the individually-wrapped boxes have been distributed in schools, hospitals, orphanages and care homes, and to households in very low income communities.
Romania has been one of the main beneficiaries over the years and in the last 18 months, many have gone to people affected by the war in Ukraine.
Mary, who is a member at North Church in Keith, has been involved with the Guild associated to Keith North, Newmill, Boharm and Rothiemay Church for many years.
"I think of each box delivering a smile to the recipient but also lots of other smiles to their mums and dads, grannies and grandpas and others," she said.
"It started off small in Keith but one year we filled over 750 boxes."
Mary, who is "82 years young", was the key driver of the annual appeal locally but as many of the ladies involved have got older, the numbers have reduced.
"The last year we have had a problem getting enough shoeboxes in Keith."
Mary is a keen knitter and will continue knitting hats, scarves and other items for small children, which she will send to the appeal, however, she is taking a well earned retirement from filling shoeboxes. She will most likely donate her knitted items to the Buckie Blythswood Shoe Box appeal.
"Knitting is a great way of passing the time. One woman liked knitting but had no bairns in her family, so knitted for the shoebox appeal.
"These folk needed an outlet and the shoeboxes were ideal. It was about everybody working together."
Even her late husband Alistair got involved in the shoebox operation for many years, helping fill boxes at home and delivering them to the charity.
Mary was moved by images of orphans and other young children in bare feet receiving their shoeboxes, so knitting slipperettes is on her 'to do' list as well.
Mary, who was born in Aberdeen, but has lived in the Keith area for almost 50 years, received a glass trophy and flowers from Keith Rotary in honour of her sterling work with the Blythswood Shoebox appeal locally.
"It wasn't just me who received this award," she said, "it was anybody who has helped over the years."
The Blythswood Tract Society, as it was then known, started in Glasgow in 1966. The group was made up of young men with a passion for Jesus and sharing the gospel. They engaged people in conversation on the city’s streets, handing out Christian messages. The Society’s name came from the area in Glasgow where they had a tiny office, near Blythswood Square.
Jackie (John Walter) Ross, Donald Ross, Ian Tallach and John Tallach were all training to be ministers and they led the group.
The group wanted to show Jesus’ example of love with practical action. They visited homeless hostels with food and clothes. Reaching out to people in need in their homes and communities became part of the much-needed work.
By 1970, all the student ministers had congregations away from Glasgow and in 1977, the charity moved to Lochcarron, in Wester Ross, where Jackie Ross was a minister.
During the 1970s and 80s the work expanded, with Bibles being sent to Africa and India, the communist Eastern Bloc; distributed to schools and in UK prisons.
In 1984, in response to emergency requests, essential aid was delivered to Poland. Relief goods were sent to Armenia in 1988 when a devastating earthquake killed 25,000 people and left many destitute. Another container went to the poor in India. Small loads of aid were taken into Romania early in 1988 and 1989.
The Romanian revolution of December 1989 led to crippling poverty there and Blythswood had sent five vehicles filled with aid by January 15, the first of many convoys.
The first Shoe Box Appeal, in 1993, delivered Christmas boxes to the poorest and most vulnerable communities in Europe.
In 1997, as its work expanded, the charity moved to a new warehouse and office premises in Deephaven, Evanton.
