WATERLOO - An assembly line is formed. Shoeboxes are packed, checked, then placed into larger boxes. The larger boxes are stacked onto pallets and loaded into a semi truck to be shipped to Texas. From there, they'll continue their journey to Nicaragua.

The shoeboxes containing school supplies, clothing and toiletries are part of an ongoing humanitarian effort of the Downtown Waterloo Rotary Club called the Shoebox Project. The mission: to help "children of the dump" in Nicaragua.

"The children who are the primary beneficiaries of the project have been called 'children of the dump' because they literally live in the dump in the town of Chinandega, Nicaragua," said Art Cox, a Rotarian.

The Waterloo Rotary Club became involved in the annual Shoebox Project about eight years ago. It began as a project to collect school supplies for needy children in Nicaragua "and has expanded to the point where over 3,000 children per year will receive a box of personal items," Cox said.

The annual shipment has grown to includes layettes for new and expectant mothers, bicycles, food, a wide assortment of hand tools and usually some medical equipment for the community. Rotarians and volunteers boxed up the items late last month and sent them on their way.

"Every year I take my daughters out shopping, and to a very large extent, allow them to choose the specific items that will go into our boxes," Cox said. "I ask for boxes that will go to girls who are approximately the same age as my daughters. Over the years they have taken ownership of the filling of the boxes, looking forward to it every year, and feeling a sense of satisfaction in helping somebody in much different circumstances than us. They understand how important receiving a box is to the children in Nicaragua and are very diligent in making sure each box has useful and pleasing items."

Waterloo Rotary Club President Mason Fromm said careful packing and shipping is crucial to getting the donated items to their recipients.

"Checking over the boxes is critical in making sure there are no tears when we get to Nicaragua," he said. "Each shoebox that we pack already has a name on it for a specific child."

The idea to reach out to these children began when Rotarians Steve and Liz Thorpe of Denver attended an International Rotary Club conference in San Antonio, Texas. A Houston Rotarian spoke of the plight of the children of Chinandega.

Back home, Steve Thorpe brainstormed with fellow Rotarian, Dave Buck, and a vision began to unfold. Buck shared his knowledge of similar relief efforts by Rotary Clubs in England using shoeboxes. The Shoebox Project was born.

"The first year we sent about 1,500 shoe boxes," Steve Thorpe said. "This year we are sending around 3,000 shoeboxes. We are sending 40 tons of merchandise to include 5 tons of food to make 11,000 meals, filling up two semi truck loads."

The Thorpes will travel to Nicaragua in December to help Rotarians from around the country distribute the boxes. Each child who is attending school gets a shoebox, Liz Thorpe said. When the project began eight years ago, nearly 1,000 children from Chinandega were living in the dump and none were attending school. Now, there are close to 2,000 children attending school, Steve Thorpe said.

"The Rotarians have a lot going on in Nicaragua. We are moving people out of the dump, building homes and educating children," Steve Thorpe said.

Added Liz Thorpe, a former Waterloo teacher: "We believe that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty."

To make a donation or become a volunteer, call Steve and Liz Thorpe at (319) 433-0414 or (319) 984-9139.

Contact Sue Willett at newsroom@wcfcourier.com.