To think that playing cards ( 4 suit variety) are not suitabe gifts.

[user1475440127]

Every year I make up a shoe box of gifts for the Shepherd's Purse shoe box appeal.
I generally fill it with various toiletry items, stationary ,hats, gloves , hair slides or toy cars and always a pack of cards.
I can think of no reason why these are no longer acceptable.
One tiny pack of cards provides hours of fun ;infinite games; a great way to improve maths skills, forward planning, explore strategies, good on so many levels.
Why????

2kids I thought there was a better version. The words are something I have never forgotten but have no idea how long ago I first heard it, long before internet.

user

MB's version was rugby related, from what I recall - only religious if you are a RU fan

Ahhh, I hadn't seen that one and have now found the version I was thinking of, how I could have forgotten a name like Wink Martindale is beyond me..

Please do not donate to this disgusting charity. As PP's have posted, it has a lot of issues. Our school stopped years ago and we now alternate between Unicef and the local appeal which goes to the elderly and needy people of our area.

Thanks for the list of alternatives. DS2 was issued with a bloody Samaritan's purse shoebox at beavers tonight and there's no way we're filling it.

There's no point in trying to persuade the beavers leader of anything (she's a difficult character and very set in her ways) so I think DS2 will simply do the task but for an organisation that aren't awful.

Many women's refuges are also very grateful for similar sorts of shoeboxes for children and women
This was last year's one
www.womensgrid.org.uk/news/?p=4777

AnnieMouse

Excellent link idea - thanks.

Hi all! Ok, Samariatan's Purse are not saying NO Playing Cards, just no playing cards of the suit variety! Top Trumps, Snap Cards, Uno types are fine. It is to do with gambling but don't blame OCC for this, it comes from the specific regions that the boxes go to. However, as far as I can tell, Dominos and Dice are still ok to be sent.

When I did some maths work in a school one of the teachers told me not to assume that everyone knew what a pack of cards consisted of (for probability) as they had a number of strict Muslim families who because of gambling reasons would not allow their children to use cards. They could learn how to use them with probability, but not handle an actual pack.
I had a lovely conversation with some of the year 11s (low ability but lovely lads if you could get them to concentrate!) about why they could use dice but not cards. Some of them hadn't even wanted to learn the basics of the card pack the hatred of them was so ingrained in them. They did quote something, I assume from the Koran against them.
We ended up using different methods to get them to understand.

My great grandma was deeply religious and wouldn't even allow playing cards in the house, calling them 'the devils playing cards'.

I used to donate to Operation Christmas Child every year until I realized that there are so many children in my own community who could benefit from these gifts. Every year, I make up 4 boxes for kids ages 4-7 yrs old (2-boxes for boys and 2-boxes for girls). And, I always manage to find some very needy children, who are also very appreciative. It makes me happy to bring them such joy, with a gift that cost me less than $20. With careful planning, it's amazing how much you can buy with only $20. If you buy your gifts right after Christmas, for the following year, sometimes they are priced at 75% to 90% off, and you can get some amazing finds. Right now, it is almost Halloween, and I'm already putting my Christmas boxes together. After Halloween, I will add any of the unused candy to the Christmas boxes as well, and finish them off with a pretty bow and a blueberry or strawberry candy cane (most kids hate peppermint..lol). So, Happy Halloween & Merry Christmas to you!!

It's because the boxes are given to people of all faiths (and none) and some faiths do not permit the use of packs of cards.

I read online about this charity.
Families get buses to a location where they listen to preaching about God and at the end get a box ... people who are in need should not have to listen to preachers first.