And why did all these threads from years ago reappear in September?

Weird

Its 8 times today. Just joined MN today.

katie4u, do you work for them,? you have possted the above four times on four threads.

Hi everyone! For me doing a shoebox with my kids has been hugely rewarding as it gave me an opportunity to explain how well off they are compared to kids in poor countries. Sure I could have just sent money but my kids wouldn't have had so much fun choosing presents for their 'child'! I heard some schools were cancelling shoeboxes this year. That's sad isn't it, I guess loads of kids who have nothing won't miss the shoeboxes but people have lost the opportunity to show them we care

sorry, wrong link.

Here is the right link www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Newsletter/october_09/

editrix,
Print out a copy of the October newsletter, and take it along to the school. The newsletter explains exactly what OCC is about. The school will have no option but drop OCC.

Good luck,
Amnon

I raised concerns with my ds's school last year about OCC but they basically told me to get lost. We don't do the shoeboxes but buy something each year through Oxfam Unwrapped and make a point of telling the class teacher what we've bought (school books and clean water this year). The problem is that OCC/SP have a massive PR machine which is very efficient and they saturated our local press with articles on the "good" they were doing last year. I, and many other people in our area, wrote to the paper to complain about OCC and the use they put people's generosity to - I wasn't sure if any of this had made a difference but I saw a notice in school today saying how many boxes had been collected this year and it's 75 fewer than last year, though numbers at the school haven't fallen. So maybe we're getting through to people and hopefully they've given their money to more ethical organisations this year.

Sam and Zoe and any other OCC supporters, I'm sure you've all got good hearts and only want to help but have you ever wondered why many many charities, including Christian Aid and Cafod, are signed up to the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies Code of Conduct and SP/OCC aren't? Perhaps it's because the third point of the code of conduct is "Aid will not be used to further a particular religious or political standpoint"? www.ifrc.org/publicat/conduct/code.asp

From anmon's link:

'Padang has a long tradition of hostility to the Gospel. In fact, many of the residents are proud that there is no church in the area. Our partners, however, are committed to bringing the light of Christ to this dark place.'

WTF? That statement is so, so wrong on so many levels.

'Please continue to pray for China and North Korea, that God will give Samaritan’s Purse even greater opportunities to build bridges of trust and understanding as we work in the Name of Jesus. Many millions of people in these two countries have grown up in a religious vacuum and need the Savior.'

I am speechless.

Just read own newsletter to find out what this "charity" is really about.

If you look at the SP accounts on the Charity Commission website they made over £22 million last year, £17 million went on the distribution of OCC stuff, a good chunk went on basic running costs of the charity (staff, etc)(can't remember the actual figure, sorry) so the actual amount they spend on aid is a pittance.

They also only gave £22,000 to the Tsunami appeal which is, imo, appalling considering the amount they earn.

Considering they rely on volunteers to sort and distribute boxes, plus everything in the box is donated either by the giver or volunteers what do they manage to spend £17 million on?

If they spent £17 million on genuine aid then I would guess that the children they are distributing their boxes to would have significantly better lives without the need for a box of plastic tat.