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?

cant yo donate money to a charity that helps children directly instead of giving stuff some dodgy american god-botherers can fly halfway around teh world and use to evangelise

I haven’t done one this year but I’m happy to say that all the ones I’ve seen advertised have been for other organisations, not Samaritans Purse.

Quite aside from the political/religious issues associated with samaritan's purse, from an environmental perspective it's a really awful idea. Shipping containers full of shoe boxes half way across the world rather than sending money to local organisations, who can buy locally and then distribute, is absolutely insane.

Our school do this and I won’t let my children take part. I remember doing it as a child but when you research the actually “charities” doing it, it’s shocking.

The one I’ve seen recently was a local homeless/refuge charity.

Just follow the leaflet, hat scarf toothbrush, sweets. It's nice your children want to get involved

Not this year, but I've previously donated stuff for shoeboxes for the Felix Fund. This was through my office, I had a colleague whose brother was a bomb disposal expert killed in Afghanistan. The boxes we sent were for service personnel spending Christmas away from their families.

The one I’ve seen recently was a local homeless/refuge charity.

I think these are a great idea. No environmental concerns as they stay local and no proselytising.

I've supported this shoebox appeal before, although it is from a religious organisation, they don't evangalise and help everyone whatever they do/ don't believe. Worth considering if you're in London, Surrey, Home Counties and the Rotary/ Foodbanks don't have a scheme near you?

www.cathchild.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Christmas-gift-appeal-poster-2018.pdf

www.cathchild.org.uk/christmas-gift-appeal/