Box Appeal for labourers aims for 15,000 donations this year



ABU DHABI // The popular charity drive The Box Appeal is back for its sixth straight year and it has expanded its reach to more countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

The appeal that encourages people to fill a box with everyday items that is then given to labourers launches on September 1 and runs until October 31.

This year will see the appeal expand into Jordan and Lebanon, in addition to the existing countries of the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. In total, 15 Radisson Blu, Radisson Royal and Park Inn by Radisson hotels will be encouraging the public across the Middle East and North Africa to get involved with supporting humanitarian charities.

The hotel chain, which devised the appeal, is hoping to beat last year's total of 13,000 donation boxes with a target of 15,000 this year.

Mark Willis, area vice president of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, which operates the hotels involved in the drive, said: "We are appreciative of the continued backing from local companies and our sponsors, and we are confident that with the each community's support, the 2013 campaign will build on the success of last year's efforts, particularly in our new territories of Lebanon and Jordan."

The initiative was launched in 2008 and gained great awareness and generous donations, which is reflected in the increasing number of hotels wanting to participate from across the Mena region, Mr Willis said.

Those who wish to take part the programme can pick up a box, free of charge, from any participating Radisson Blu or Park Inn by Radisson hotel, and return it filled with the predetermined selection of household items.

The hotels in each region will then distribute the boxes, working in conjunction with locally based charities, to those in need of support.

The charities working with The Box Appeal 2013 campaign includes Red Crescent and UAE Red Crescent, I Love Qatar (Doha), Teach a Child (Beirut), I- Care initiative (Oman).

For a full list of locations of where people can pick up boxes from, visit www.facebook.com/theboxappeal

anwar@thenational.ae

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Temple numbers

Expected completion: 2022

Height: 24 meters

Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people

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How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries

• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.

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€39 million: Liverpool agreed a fee, including add-ons, in the region of 39m (nearly Dh176m) to sign Salah from Roma last year. The exchange rate at the time meant that cost the Reds £34.3m - a bargain given his performances since.

13: The 25-year-old player was not a complete stranger to the Premier League when he arrived at Liverpool this summer. However, during his previous stint at Chelsea, he made just 13 Premier League appearances, seven of which were off the bench, and scored only twice.

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Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.

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A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
  • 2018: Formal work begins
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MATCH INFO

Serie A

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THE BIO

Favourite holiday destination: Whenever I have any free time I always go back to see my family in Caltra, Galway, it’s the only place I can properly relax.

Favourite film: The Way, starring Martin Sheen. It’s about the Camino de Santiago walk from France to Spain.

Personal motto: If something’s meant for you it won’t pass you by.

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