It’s that time of year again… Shoebox Project is back!

When the inaugural Shoebox Project began in 2006 with a women’s leadership group collecting 1,500 decorated shoeboxes filled with toiletries for homeless women and children, no one would have believed the amount of community support it would receive over the next twelve years. Did you know that in the last two years alone, we distributed more than 75,000 shoeboxes to more than 100 agencies across Greater Atlanta? That’s impressive. And it’s all because of a caring community – people like you. As we celebrate our 13th year of Shoebox Project, there are plenty of ways you can get involved between now and May 1. Here’s how!

-Fill a shoebox (top and bottom wrapped separately) with a combination of new, unopened item. After you wrap and fill your shoeboxes, drop them off at one of these locations. If you have more than 150 shoeboxes, United Way will schedule a pickup of the boxes. The last day to schedule a pickup is April 16.

-Host a shoebox party and invite friends, colleagues, or neighbors to decorate and fill shoeboxes together. Click here to download the instructional flyer.

-Purchase items and contribute them to our Virtual Shoebox!

-Spread the word, tweet (#ShoeboxATL) or post about the United Way Shoebox Project on Facebook and LinkedIn.

–Volunteer your time to sort shoeboxes.

And for more information about United Way of Greater Atlanta’s Shoebox Project click here or email shoeboxproject@unitedwayatlanta.org.

Brianna Alexander is a Senior Community Volunteer Manager at United Way of Greater Atlanta.