What do you do for charities around christmas time?

[Lifeisshort123]

I was wondering what other do to teach their children about helping those in need over the christmas period?
We always do christmas shoeboxes as I have had the opportunity to hand deliver these boxes and its a very personal thing for me, I also let each of my kids pick out an item of food for our local food bank of there choice as long as it was on the list. I was thinking of doing the shoeboxes and something else apart from letting the kids pick something for our local food bank.
I know its only september but christmas will be here before we know it!

And not just any church. It's a very conservative organisation headed by someone who is openly homophobic and who supports Trump in wanting to ban Muslims from the USA.

Operation Christmas Child does not have the support of DHL who used to manage their distribution, and it has also been criticised by mainstream charities like Oxfam. The Rotary organisation do similar show boxes with no strings attached. www.rotaryshoebox.org/

Not sure if it's true for all charities but the shop I work in will take volunteers from the age of 14. So anyone with teens could encourage them to do a few shifts in the run up to Christmas - busy time for all charity shops and a time when volunteers want time off to make their own preparations.

We did the Oxfam one last year. Bought a family a goat. Some good non religious ideas here

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

We do a few things, the shoe box (Rotary one) via DD's school is her favourite.

We buy a few mini xmas puddings and put them in the foodbank trolley at the supermarket along with custard mix, a few advent calendars and some biscuits.

We also have a mass toy and clothing clear out in November and divvy them up, donated items go to the British heart foundation shop, hospice shop and the items that are in the best condition we give directly to our local childrens' home, along with a few packages of new colouring pencils and colouring books that we wrap in xmas paper.

Being against OCC/Samaritans purse shoe boxes is nothing about being anti religion, it's about not supporting an organisation (it does not qualify for charity status) that promotes Homophobia, Islamophobia, run by www.facebook.com/FranklinGraham/ who only stopped taking two full time million dollar salaries after the American Government stepped in. I can't say to much as they threatened several MNers with legal action for discussing OCC a couple of years ago. They will be reading this! It is, on a lighter note a very bad charity model, it is all about the giver not the receiver, lots of resources are used to flood vulnerable communities with cheap goods that damages the local economy whilst the prothletising Every gift filled shoe box is a powerful tool for evangelisum and discipleship - trainsforming the lives of children and their families around the world though the good news of Jesus Christ! causes further social problems. Cold hard cash is what is needed, spent in the local economy on culturally appropriate goods and given freely. If you really want to give goods keep it local.
Minions Banned, the HT thanked me for it, I did not ask for another charity to take it's place, to be honest we had far too many charity fund raisers in school.

Ah I guess that's why my post calling some rather rude names was removed...

Thanks for the link Luna.

be very very careful about saying anything about OCC or SP - I was threatened with legal action - as where a few other MN's, last year - a very serious threat

I donate to my local FB all year round - I tend to put more treats in round Christmas time such as Advent Calendars ( November obviously) and mice pies

My post took so long to post (am
On holiday!) that I have realised there are 4 pages of responses. Good to know other shoe boxes are available

I usually buy Xmas cards and a calendar from a charity that rescue a particular type of dog.

we give to Wood Street all year round, and also support their Christmas appeal.

i've worked with families who've benefited from the charity, and they hugely value the support.

My dd died on Christmas day. We give to the hospice she died in and so does family.

Having done a bit of reading about it I can see why. I never really thought about it in terms of filling up developing countries with tat. I'm glad I've been reading this thread it's been quite I opening.

Often nothing as I have a couple of monthly direct debits to charities I support, but sometimes I will be moved to make a donation to the BBC Radio 4 appeal.

That's a good idea, do you buy them in bulk for cheaper?

I'm so sorry for your loss

Sounds lovely but unforuntaly we live in London.

I did the Refuge Christmas box appeal last year (there was a thread on mumsnet). Was great and have carried on collecting cheap toiletries throughout this year. Am looking forward to doing the shop in late November with DD to stock up on sanitary products and chocolate.

I think I may volunteer to help sort and wrap this year too.

No!!

Please remove. Thank you.

Wrapping the shoeboxes is the hardest part!😂

Thanks for all the great ideas!

I like the refuge appeal as many women flee with their kids and the clothes on their backs. It helps if the kids get a present at Christmas as all children should have at least one gift.

nothing but i really should, Well i do donate food but I have not helped out anywhere before

Everything helps, maybe just pick up something from your weekly shop to donate to the food bank or make a little donation to a charity you like ect.