A woolly hat and scarf. As a double amputee, it’s not easy for Micsu to get out and about much. But being able to stay warm indoors is just as important and the knitted goods which he received in his Blythswood shoebox are good for that, too.

Micsu (64) and his wife Ildiko (72) live in eastern Hungary, near the Romanian border. In recent times their village has experienced drastic depopulation, and no longer has any children. With no shop nearby, Ildiko has to get a taxi once a week to a neighbouring village to buy food.

Irmus Varga has distributed shoeboxes for several years. She gives priority to families with a chronically sick child, and to elderly and isolated people such as Ildiko and Micsu. She says: “There is a lot of poverty and unemployment in our area. Many people depend on the state-run national soup kitchen.

“Your generosity helps to make their everyday lives easier.”

Your gifts were a blessing to Micsu and Ildiko