Christmas Shoe Boxes of Gifts for Romanian Children

[Rhiannon]

Last year I made up a shoe box of presents for a child in Romania. This year I'd like to do the same but can't remember the name of the charity but I do know they are based in Queens Rd, Buckhurst Hill, Essex. Can anyone help? R.

[Emmam]

Its called Operation Christmas Child and is run by the charity Samaritans Purse. They do have a website, but can't remember what its called. If you do a search you'll probably find it fairly quickly.

I did this the other year too. Its a fantastic cause and I can't look at the pictures of the children opening their 'shoe boxes' without getting all teary!

[Wendym]

It's www.samaritanspurse.org but you may find the boxes have to be in already. In my area it was last Sunday.

[Rhiannon]

Thank you ladies, I can always rely on Mumsnet. I have just been on the website (you need to click on UK) and the last date is Mon 12th November. I hope they're taking them at Kwik Fit again this year, think I'll get busy on it now. R.

[Faith]

If you can't find a collection point for Samaritan's purse there is also the Children in distress shoebox appeal. e-mail: [email protected]. Various phone no's. 01845 524184 covers Wales & W. Midlands, 01845 527958 for London, Sn Eng. and E. Anglia. Good luck. I think they are brill schemes, and dd's and I love doing it.

[Rhiannon]

Found it, last day is Nov 12th. They are receiving the filled boxes at brances of Kwik Fit and they have the leaflets there for you to fill in and stick on your box.

I have decided to do a box for an older boy as apparently they don't get many. Help please, what can I put in it?

[Scummymummy]

How about a walkman, some batteries and some bad chart music? Sweeties, pens, socks, etc to fill out the corners.
This scheme seems like a great idea. Will any old shoe box do?

[Emmam]

I don't think you can put anything in with batteries as the availability when they run out is scarce. How about some of those pinball type games that operate on spring mechanisms? A baseball cap - something sports branded that a teenage boy might appreciate? Playing cards? Football sticker books? Balsa wood planes? Dinosaur skeleton models? Tennis balls or those rubbery bouncy balls. Try a good mixture of practical and fun - so plenty of sweets, felt tips, notebooks, toys, hats, scarves, gloves (goalie gloves?), toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, sponge.

Its amazing just how much you can cram into one box. I work in an environment where we get lots of samples and things picked up at toy fairs and we used those to put in the boxes.

[Faith]

Scummymummy, any old shoe box is fine - adult size and covered with christmas paper, not taped but secured with a large rubber band (so it can be checked), and £2 to cover transport.
Rhiannon, what a good idea, having girls we've always gone for girlie boxes, and I guess they're easier so I can understand why older boys lose out. What about: funky key-ring, football ephemera, stuff from somewhere like a camping shop- those fluorescent light sticks, torches that work by ?friction? - they don't need batteries, water bottle, note book, trendy stationery, mouth organ. Hmm, much harder than girls!

[Rhiannon]

Looking at the DM today at the scenes in Afghanistan and the state the children are in, they look like surviving is on the top of their agenda. I showed my 6 year old and he was really concerned. Thanks for the ideas. R.

[IDismyname]

I spent time as a volunteer in Romania a few years back. It certainly changed my outlook on life to put it mildly....
I do remember that biros, or pens in general were in very short supply... so were screw in lightbulbs, but they hardly make a good present!!
Thanks for all the info on this thread... I'll be popping to kwik fit asap.

[Ems]

GMTV appealed for shoe boxes of gifts this morning to be dropped off at Kwik Fit.

Mark it either for a boy or a girl. Wrap the lid and the box separately in Christmas paper.

Enclose a £2 cheque for GMTV Shoebox appeal, this will cover its transport.

Its really cold out there at the mo, so gloves, hats, socks, scarves.

Toiletries; toothbrush, toothpaste, soap etc

Boredom; pens, pencils, paper

Soft toy, sweets. These were some of the things suggested.

NO WAR TOYS, NOTHING WITH BATTERIES AND NO BOOKS. NO FOODS/DRINKS (but apparently the sweets were OK)

[Enid]

Ems, what a great thing to do. Didn't see GMTV but can you remember when the deadline is - if its not too soon it might be a nice thing to do with the mums from our toddler group.

[Marina]

I was sorry to miss the earlier shoebox deadline. Can anyone tell me when the GMTV/Kwikfit one is, because we have one just round the corner. Cheers!

[Ems]

Enid and MArina, I didnt catch when the GMTV deadline is, but they were just launching it this morning. I know they have a website, or call Kwik Fit and ask them.

[Ems]

... and also, these boxes are not just for Romania, they also go to Afghanistan, where it is SO COLD. Apparently 18 different countries will benefit.

[Wendym]

Items don't all have to be new either, only clean and in good condition. Toiletires are apparently welcome as well as toys/sweets etc. Can't find a closing date anywhere and didn't hear one mentioned on GMTV but I've e-mailed to try and find out.

[Ems]

Deadline is 3 DECEMBER.

I found other info on GMTV website.

Clearly mark your box male/female and age group:

2-4 years, 5-9 years or 10-14 years.

Enclose a letter and/or photo of you and family.

Seal box with elastic band. Dont individually wrap any of your prezzies.

[Berries]

Try asking local school sif they are having a pickup. Unfortunately, ours was yesterday but you may find scholls in you rarea will take them also.

[Rhiannon]

Just to add to this, local Kwik Fit has the leaflets that you need to fill in and it gives ideas of what to put in. They printed the closing date on the leaflets as Nov 12th but apparently this was a misprint and should have been the start date!

They are always very short of boxes for older boys.

I'm going to get together with my NCT friends to do a year round collection for them.

[Wendym]

Kwik Fit marketing dept said the closing date was 21st December. Seems very late so I think I'll trust to Ems date of 3rd.

[SueW]

I've just been looking at the GMTV website - for something completely unrelated to this - and ended up on their chat boards.

There is a lot of controversy on there about the organisation which is running the appeal for the shoeboxes. Apparently, according to the posters, it is handing out the boxes with Christian literature no matter what the religion of the recipients.

I'd love to find out more about this but my internet link keeps dropping out - very frustrating - and it is really time for bed but it's certainly a hot topic on GMTV's boards, with people being affronted that GMTV isn't explaining exactly how the 2 quid you enclose breaks down to cover the cost of expenses, amongst other things.

There's more about Samaritans Purse at www.samaritanspurse.org

Yes, it does mention that 'To suffering people in a broken world, we share the news of the only One who can bring true peace?Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace' (quote taken from their website).

Not sure what to think now. Though I love the idea of giving pressies to needy kids, I want it just to be a pressie, with no message attached.

[SueW]

I've just been looking at the GMTV website - for something completely unrelated to this - and ended up on their chat boards.

There is a lot of controversy on there about the organisation which is running the appeal for the shoeboxes. Apparently, according to the posters, it is handing out the boxes with Christian literature no matter what the religion of the recipients.

I'd love to find out more about this but my internet link keeps dropping out - very frustrating - and it is really time for bed but it's certainly a hot topic on GMTV's boards, with people being affronted that GMTV isn't explaining exactly how the 2 quid you enclose breaks down to cover the cost of expenses, amongst other things.

There's more about Samaritans Purse at www.samaritanspurse.org

Yes, it does mention that 'To suffering people in a broken world, we share the news of the only One who can bring true peace?Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace' (quote taken from their website).

Not sure what to think now. Though I love the idea of giving pressies to needy kids, I want it just to be a pressie, with no message attached.

[SueW]

Sorry bout the double posting - my line dropped just as I posted.

[robinw]

message withdrawn

[helenmc]

Salvation army - box for homeless. Just been asked at school for donations to make up a box for homeless etc of shampoo, soap, toothrush, toothpaste,hair brush. tinned food that would make a meal (eg sausages & bean, or casserole), maye a small chocolate and a xmas tree!!