To have a grumble about overly prescriptive Christmas donation collections

[Lochroy]

I probably am and it's just a grumble, but we're feeling the pinch at home, yet I'd still like to be able to help if we can, plus the DC are asking about one of the because it's via school.

Both via school and work we've been given lists of what's needed. One is for a children's charity but the stuff needs to be new. Good quality second hand isn't accepted. The other wants a shoebox full. To fill it with items from the list will be beyond what I can afford.

I think I'm going to have to disappoint the DC and we'll just donate cash to a charity which wants it.

AIBU to think the scale of the appeal asks is too much?

Many churches stopped doing Samaritans Purse because they were uncomfortable with their ethos (I know we did, it made us feel very uncomfortable that instead of just being a nice gift they were used as propoganda)

Items being new is completely understandable as some people will just dump crap that is fit only for the bin and might contaminate decent stuff.

If you can't afford it, don't. But toys can be picked up quietly cheaply from Amazon, Asda, Poundland, Home Bargains, B&M

It wasn’t me, but it’s additional proof of how important they can be. 😔

Our school works closely with quite a few charities tackling child poverty and I get involved a lot because I know first hand what it means and the impact these donations can make.

I don’t remember seeing any leaflets trying to indoctrinate me in my box, I don’t think it’s a reason not to send them to children.

Politely decline, let the school know, and ask that any other child whose parent declines to take part is not treated as somehow stingy or worse.

Operation Christmas Child has a slogan "Every shoebox a gospel opportunity".

This video shows how they use them, and their view of other beliefs - Nepal = Hinduism = 'darkness'. The shoeboxes are used as bribes to encourage children to convert to Christianity, and then bring their families with them. This is not something they make clear in their promotions in British schools.

If it is that kind of shoebox, OP, I would just say no. New items for struggling families in the UK is another matter.

I know the boxes we have give guidance but as a recipient what do you think is important to include?

As fun as toys are, children in dire situations need school supplies, toiletries, hair accessories, hat and gloves etc. Things that my children take for granted, but growing up I had none of these. For example I remember receiving a bar of soap that I treasured immensely and had to hide from my many, many older siblings. In our yearly boxes we put the above and also fun notebooks, colouring pencils, pens, stickers etc.

Quite. Different people have different standards when it comes to what is 'good' secondhand. You can see this in charity shops where bobbly, stretched and even stained sweaters, etc, are donated. If this sometimes makes the racks it makes you wonder what horrors they have to discard and, more importantly, who on earth thought anyone else would want it.

Properly good second hand can go to charity shops. Equally, as far as these charity drives are concerned, it should be 'opt-in', especially if it is schools, and it certainly should not be obvious who donated and who didn't. If you have several children the cost of all the fund raising activities can really add up.