Anyone done a shoe box this year?

[wishywashy27]

Dc want to take part in the shoebox appeal this year. I know the basics to include - small toys, toothbrush, soap, stationary - but haven't done one for years and wondered if anyone could offer any other ideas? What's in yours?

Please consider an alternative

humanism.org.uk/humanism/humanism-today/humanists-doing/good-causes-and-charities/samaritans-purse/

Not toothpaste any more, customs don't like it! Toothbrush is fine.
Hat/scarf/gloves, small ball (tennis fits in well) Notebook, stickers, soft toy, colouring book, sewing kit, craft kit, not playing cards but things like Uno or top trumps are fine, wind up torch, marbles, badges etc.

But you're about to have 550 replies from people who know nothing about it except what they've read on here, telling you on no account to have anything to do with it because it's Christian propaganda.
I've met some (not Christian) people who have received the shoe boxes at various points and they don't recognise the stories on here.

Where do the boxes go?

Couple of other ideas would be hairbrush/comb, hair bands or clips, small bracelet, colouring pencils/pens/crayons, picture book.

Sadly, one local charity is having to do a similar thing for people in this country

Maybe you'd be better doing that, to avoid the religious aspects.

I had no idea about any religious connotations :/

I genuinely didn't realise people don't support this. Surely you're just sending presents to underprivileged kids?

Witchend

There's more than one shoebox appeal. I won't have anything to do with Samaritan's Purse.

I now donate to Crisis At Christmas instead.

“Her gods don’t love her”

And this is supposed to be promoting Samaritan’s Purse

www.samaritanspurse.org/article/her-gods-dont-love-her/

I give to the local womens refuge.

Our local womens refuge have a shoe box appeal, you might have similar in your area ?

It's something my kids want to do through school. Not even sure if this one goes to the Samaritans or another cause....

I like the idea of a women's refuge one but it mightn't be appropriate for the dc

My daughter did one for her schools and it was run by Team Hope - they splintered/distanced themselves from Samarathans Purse.

The one people object to OP isn't The Samaritans, it's Samaritans Purse, completely seperate.

www.samaritanspurse.org

You probably know this but Samaritan’s Purse (Operation Christmas Child) is nothing to do with The Samaritans (who do amazing and selfless work around Christmas)

That article is vile

@wishywashy27 please read the link I posted as the first response. It tell you everything you need to know about the organisation behind Operation Christmas Child and using the boxes to carry out inappropriate evangelising in 'lost' communities in poor parts of the world.

My workplace tried to do this a few years ago. When I gave them the background they were horrified and we donated to another charity instead.

Please check where your boxes are going.

I won’t be supporting OCC for the reasons in the thread and the articles, and in more general terms question the value to children in poverty of a bunch of shitty Poundland trinkets.

You can't include marbles, action man, toothpaste, chocolate or sweets.
I box for 10 year old I put a rubrix cube, sudoko pad, Star Wars stickers, tennis ball, hair bobbles, brush, comb, gloves, hat, a recorder (musical), pencil case with pens, pencils, sharpener and rubber, note book, colour pad, felt pens, cuddly toy, flannel, nail brush, and dominoes in wooden case. In box for 2 year old I put in Duplo style blocks, building up cups, plastic drinking cup with Santa on, a ball, hat and a cuddly bear, musical phone, a flannel and soft toothbrush.

In my school I used to collect items and we sent over 100 boxes but since I no longer work there they no longer so it and I do feel sad about that. I used to do 12 boxes each year but as dh has had very bad health and been rushing too and fro hospital a lot have only made 2 boxes and donation this year.

Yes rotary- I did 2, a household and one for a 6 year old boy.
I followed the supplied list in home bargains!
It wasn’t difficult.
Child one was shower/ bath gel, toothbrush, toothpaste, small block set (like Lego), gloves, toy car, juggling balls, stickers, mini colouring book, crayons, pencil case with stationery set, bubbles.

Household was shampoo, conditioner, soap, razors, scented tea lights, warm gloves, toothbrushes and toothpaste, sponges.

www.rotaryshoebox.org/

@wishywashy27 sorry i rushed my reply, should have said the boxes are still for children, just those that are in a refuge with their mums.

Samaritans purse article

What others have said. Check which organisation is behind the scheme. If it's SamaritansPurse/operation Christmas child, please read up and decide if you want to be part of it. I wouldn't.

But not all shoe box campaigns are the same.

From the article posted by @ThePortIsSunny

"Most people packing up shoeboxes don’t know they are used for anti-Muslim proselytising. Or that they are backing a pro-Trump, anti-gay message. Some may be from churches sharing that evangelical brand – but I would guess most parents and children haven’t a clue what they are supporting."

It's through dc school.

Regardless of politics it's something dc have decided to do off their own backs because they want to be kind. They don't really understand religion and politics. The article doesn't make for particularly nice reading but as far as my kids are concerned they are just giving to children less fortunate. The whole point of it for me is instilling some compassion in dc regardless of where the box ends up although clearly I do hope it makes a child somewhere happy.

Didn't realise there was such controversy around this. Maybe I've been under a rock