To deliberately infuriate and annoy mumsnetters with this statement.

[bubbleOseven]

I am sending a Christmas Shoe Box this year.

So fuck you.

And the horse you rode in on.

Never done it, wouldn't if I trusted the cause.

Frankly, I think it's plain condescending, and I would much rather give money to an experienced charity, and let them use it as they see fit.

Didn't know that about Samaritans Purse, my mum is alwasy trying to get me to do one. Have anybody got any evidence of the conversion thing?

DS came back from Beavers last night wanting to do the "in a jiffy appeal" for one of his badges. The website includes a nice youtube advert about how great it is to join the Army.

Now if I could get the Beaver leader on the horse and get her to ride off into the sunset....

The website includes a nice youtube advert about how great it is to join the Army.

WTF?!

cupcakesandbunting I know. He's 6. FFS.

Arf at ShirleyKnot!

"DS came back from Beavers last night wanting to do the "in a jiffy appeal" for one of his badges. The website includes a nice youtube advert about how great it is to join the Army. "

Oh my God! A vaguely militaristic uniformed organisation with close historic ties to the army turns out to be a vaguely militaristic uniformed organisation that accepts adverts from the army. Who would have thought it?

Charity begins at home.

Never heard of Samaritans Purse so can't comment on that.
I do Christmas shoeboxes with the DC's every year. They are distributed to Eastern Europe and Asia by a small Christian charity. I know people who have been to some of the orphanages in question through volunteering with this charity. These people have NOTHING. These gifts are HUGELY appreciated.
If I can help by filling a small box with essentials such as a hat and gloves, toothpaste and toothbrush, soap, pencil and paper etc (which is what is asked for) then I will. Personally I think its good for the kids to give some thought to others in need.
Yes the charity do add a bible story to the box. I have no problem with that. They certainly don't require people to convert to Christianity before receiving them. That would be un-Christian, frankly.

We have a local charity who do shoeboxes for Romania, they take it themselves. They ask for boxes for children, pensioners and now 17-30 year olds who are repatriated after being victims of people trafficking. What a sad world we live in.

"Charity begins at home."

Would you tell my husband that? I need a new winter coat, pronto.

Didn't someone on the other thread say she knew someone in Eastern Europe - who was well off enough to send her children to a private nursery - who got one?

Shoeboxes cost a fortune to ship and then contain nothing that actually helps (bar perhaps the mosquito nets) You'd be far better off donating cash via a reputable charity.

Blatherskite - Sorry but I just don't agree.

I don't agree with Blatherskite either.

Whilst I will be vetting who I send my box with this year, I will still be sending one because it's the spirit of christmas that these kids miss out on. Of course a mosquito net is more practical but then I think that practically, my DS would benefit from some new wellies instead of the Mr Potato Head he wants.

Our church has links with a church in Croatia that distributes shoeboxes to local children. They get the shoeboxes from Samaritan's Purse. A couple of my friends went over one year to help give out the boxes.

The Croatian church borrowed the town cinema to use as a place to give out the boxes from, so that all the Muslim parents would allow their children to come and get a box too. No preaching, no need to "convert".

My friend still gets tears in her eyes as she remembers the looks on the childrens faces as they were given presents.

We do shoeboxes. We also make donations to Christian Aid - it doesn't have to be one or the other!

You're allowed not to agree with me.

I reserve the right to think you're wrong.

No. You're wrong!

Do Muslim kids even turn up to collect a box? I'm guessing not. I thought that the main religion of Romania was orthodox christian?

Stewie you're obviously very bitter against people who choose to send these boxes. What about people like me who send a box (I think it's a nice way of showing my very young DS some compassion, actually)and buy nets? Or does charity have to be pigeon-holed?

I do a shoe box for a local childrens charity. I hope you step in the horse shit my horse just shat.

No Molly. You're wrong!

Full stop no returns!! :p