Project details
FC Red Bull Salzburg – Christmas in Shoeboxes
Christmas in Shoeboxes – ‘Geschenke der Hoffnung’ is an initiative that saw everyone at FC Red Bull Salzburg participating in packing presents for children in need in Eastern Europe.
As an initiative of the team council, FC Red Bull Salburg decided that all the players, coaches, support staff and employees would participate in ‘Christmas in Shoeboxes’. During the international break of 2017, the Taxham training centre was converted into a Christmas workshop as the club became santas for a short period.
Inspired by Operation Christmas Child, which encourages participants to send gift-filled shoeboxes to children in need around the world, everyone packed over 200 Christmas shoeboxes after a few weeks of preparation. Among the contents were 150 bottles of shower gel, toothbrushes, toothpaste, 100 soft toys, 50 footballs, 150 writing sets, colouring books, crayons, plasticine plus hats, gloves, socks and sweets by the kilo. All shoeboxes would be sent to children in need aged 2-14 in Eastern Europe afterwards.
The club also asked fans to join in and support the ‘Christmas in Shoeboxes’ campaign by contributing their own shoeboxes as part of the club.
Incidentally, FC Red Bull Salzburg was the first professional football club in Europe to take part in the Operation Christmas Child initiative to this extent.
” I hope that we as a club can exceed our own expectations together with the fans. Every shoebox that puts a smile on a kid’s face counts.” – Alexander Walke, Captain
” It’s impossible to imagine that there are still children in the world who have absolutely nothing and are as happy as can be just to receive a stuffed animal or a football.” – Reinhold Yabo, Player
Below is a video documenting the preparation of the club:
FC Red Bull Salzburg – Hospital visits
