Radisson’s charity appeal gathers 7,500 shoe boxes

The Radisson SAS will be distributing about 7,500 boxes at the end of its Shoe Box Appeal community campaign which has been running in Dubai for four weeks.

The boxes will be distributed by the campaign partners along with Helping Hands, the charity that manages the distribution for the campaign, from September 28 onwards to the pre-determined labour camps in UAE.

This campaign will also become known as the Annual Shoe Box Campaign by Radisson SAS Dubai Media City as the hotel has decided to launch the campaign every year in August/September, according to media account manager at Strategic Solutions, one of the campaign supporters.

Filled shoe boxes have been dropped off daily by the Dubai public at the Radisson SAS, Dubai Media City Hotel since the launch of the Shoe Box Appeal at the start of Ramadan.

Siegfried Nierhaus, general manager of Radisson SAS, said that two companies had pledged 1,500 boxes between them, while another had collected cash donations.

 “The community effort has been fabulous and is set to touch lives of construction workers in UAE. These guys are braving extreme weather conditions, as well as having to manage numerous lifestyle issues that are rather unique to them,” said Farida Parekh, marketing & communications manager of Radisson SAS Dubai Media City.

TECOM Investments had mobilised 55 Shoe Box collection and donation points throughout the Internet City, Media City and Knowledge Village.

 “There are in excess of 500,000 construction workers currently employed within the UAE construction sector and although we cannot touch then all, we want to do our best for some,” said Elle Trow of Helping Hands.

Other supporters of the campaign included Union Paper Mills and Gulf News Broadcasting Corporation.