To have written to the school about the Christmas shoebox scheme?

[gastrognome]

Just had a look through the leaflet sent home from DD1's school about the Christmas shoebox scheme that they are involved in.

Turns out the organisation adds religious literature to the boxes before they are distributed.

I love the idea of filling and sending a Christmas shoebox for somebody less privileged than us, but I really don't like the fact that these schemes are used as a means to evangelise. Of course Christmas is by its very nature a Christian festival but I don't think that it's right to "spread the word" by stealth.

So I just wrote to DD's school and suggested that next year they look for a similar scheme that isn't so evangelical in nature. I said I'd be happy to help research any organisations they could work with.

Do any others feel the same way, or have I turned into Scrooge?

But you're an adult, hiddenhome? It's not quite the same.

(that question mark was an accident, sorry )

Bizarre thread this - astonishing number of people on here who, if they looked up, would see the fucking point whistling over the top of their heads.

Having worked with several NGOs in the developing world and seen at first hand what some religiously-motivated charities demand of recipients in order for them to receive aid or donations, I make a point of steering clear of all religiously affiliated charities.

People are bafflingly naive to think that there is no evangelical or missionary element to this stuff. I have witnessed situations in Asia where people were forced to attend bible classes before accessing medical treatment and medication.

My son's school has signed up to this Christmas box thing too. We just ignore it and carry on giving to charities that WE choose to be involved with - charities with no religious or political affiliations.
I really applaud all of those MNetters who are questioning their schools about their involvement with this scheme.

Children in poverty and need are in poverty and need ALL year round not just Christmas. Instead of chucking away money on boxes of toy crap why not give £££ to a decent charity instead - one that is going to feed kids and innoculate them and put a roof over their heads and keep them safe and educate them?
This Xmas box stuff is all about making the giver feel all warm and gooey - it has nothing to do with actually malking a difference to the lives of the largest number of recipients possible.

Hiddenhome, but when the leaflet promises 12 more lessons, with free food (when te children are starving) and lots of other strings attached? It genuinely isn't 'just a leaflet'...

And you think children take these leaftlets seriously?

They're just after the toys They're hardly going to succumb to brainwashing over something like this.

We used to go to Sunday school each week in the kids home, but it had no effect on me and I didn't take any of it in.

You're all viewing this through an adult's eyes.

If it bothers you so much, don't do it. Simple as. I am sure the recipients aren't stupid just because they are poor. They can throw out the literature if they want (and probably do, most likely they take all the evangelising with a large pinch of salt and tolerate it for the sake of a treat).

I like the shoebox because it is a very concrete symbol of giving for my DS, who can help buy things and fill it up. Yes, sending money out to buy stuff out there wouldbe more efficient, but it wouldn't be so personal or put the giving into context for the children who give.

Tbh, I think it's fine to read up about it, read all the leaflet material, understand that its primary intention is as evangelism not charity, and then decide that, in the end, it's still something you want to do.

What I don't like about the organisation is how secretive they are (in the UK, even though once the boxes are overseas what happens to them does not depend on whether they come from the US or the UK) about their motives and exactly what happens, to the extent that many people remain unaware of the evangelical link.

Well, so far I've got the buggers stopped in the school where I teach (we do rather a lot of genuine charity, locally, nationally & internationally).

I'll be writing to the dc's school again this year, explaining why they needn't look to us for a box of tat & offensiveness.

What amazes me is that so many people are willing to carry on giving to a shitty fake charity when there are so many more ethical and more effective ways of teaching DC to think of others and give gifts.

The shoebox thing obviously appeals to people though. Makes it tangible in some way. Ideally everyone would donate money to the best causes without the faff, but there would be a drop-out rate for some people who'd do a shoebox but not send cash.

but it wouldn't be so personal or put the giving into context for the children who give

But it isn't about what YOU want. That is the whole point of giving - you give what is needed by those who are in need.

You know what happens to all these lovely 'personal' toys?
I'll tell you - they'll get flogged - to buy food or pay rent on some cruddy shack. I saw it all the time - smug Westerners would glide into town handing out presents to the kids like Lady Bountifuls and within minutes the adults had grabbed it off them and sold it.
Some people here really do have a very odd concept of poverty - as if it is nothing worse than a terrible Barbie deprivation.

One child dies every 4 seconds in this world simply because they are poor. They are hungry and sick. People need to eat - they don't need crappy plastic toys. Or drippy bloody sentiment about Christmas. Poverty is for life not just for Christmas.

Well, hiddenhome, we're not really all miserable buggers, are we?

I was advocating giving gifts to local food banks, for local people to receive parcels, sorted by volunteers, at minimal carbon cost.

And I'll keep giving to that project where I live. With chocolate for Christmas.

Good post, esta

MissyMarmite
Did you read anything that was posted on this thread? Did you read what Esta posted, about the personal experience she had with this kind of project?

It is astounding to me that anyone can still defend this kind of thing, after all the evidence that it is, at best misguided, at worst extremely damaging to the efforts of charities and governments to improve the life of these children.

If you want to teach your DC about charity, about giving, then pack up some old toys and take them to a Womens' Refuge.

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. And went to his child, and said 'Behold a man who is suffering. Let us help a suffering man like him'. And the child put some bandages, oil and wine in a shoebox, and the Samaritan set the shoebox on his own beast, and brought the shoebox to a distribution centre. And on the morrow when the shipment of shoeboxes departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the driver, and said unto him, Take care of the shoebox as my child is waxing happy thinking of the help he has given unto the suffering poor. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?

And he said, Well, the shoebox is a great idea and all, but why didn't the Samaritan and his child help the suffering man who was actually nearest to them?

Then said Jesus unto him, Possibly thou hast a point but have you read the whole thread?

Then it was asked, "if you hadn't ever been told about Christianity, how would you have been able to quote the parable?"

And a voice in the crowd replied 'I do find it handy to have common cultural references, even if it's with an outfit I have nothing else in common with, as that is how I know that to taint the parable of the Samaritan with evangelism, when one of the main points of the story was that having compassion had nothing to do with evangelism or indeed religion, is a despicable act of cultural vandalism. Having said that, even without the common cultural references, it should be possible for adults to spot the problems with Samaritan's Purse straight away. Hence, presumably, why they aim at children.'

Joan
Genius :o

(am wondering if I know you)

Now I feel guilty. Those were smug posts and I shouldn't be smug about people's religion. I just dislike this scheme so much because it despoils the real meaning of Christmas for me - Christmas is about giving and giving again with an open heart and an open mind, no message, no talking, no demanding, no rules, no leaflets, no passive-aggression and no assumptions.

Atheist here. Hate this charity. I have spent many many Christmases working at homeless hostels. If I am not scheduled, I go down and spread the love and mince pies. WWJD? Not have any time for this charity but rather hang with me and my homeless friends at the hostel. I think if his Dad really is G.. they will let me in on a technicality.

MrsTerryPratchett nominates Joan for some sort of award.

Joan: Nothing wrong with taking the piss out of people's superstitions. Particularly when, like the motivations of Samaritan's Purse, they are so deserving of a good kicking.

interesting thread this one

In response to Esta I'm sure that selling of the contents of the boxes does happen. Personally I've not seen it here (Moldova), but the boxes that we give out are designed for the whole family and gernerally contain more useful stuff than just plastic tat.

I say again that we give out boxes as a small part of what we do, alongside longer term strategies that work to meet people's real needs.

The boxes are also a way of getting people in the UK engaged with the situation here, many of whom go on to raise funds for the other projects.