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Christmas

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Original poster

Spare a thought this Christmas

32 replies

BankerMommy2010 · 15/10/2013 16:16

I did this one year at school and loved choosing gifts for a less fortunate child...since having my son, whom I love to buy gifts for it makes me feel slightly less indulgent by giving something back to those that probably won't get anything... so here's the link

www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk

OP posts:
Iamanorangesmartie · 15/10/2013 16:17

I love your sentiment op, but oh dear, some People on here will have strong views on this .....

Rosvita · 15/10/2013 17:37

We are doing this through ds' school this year.He got really into choosing the gifts to go inside and picking the wrapping paper for the box.I used to live doing the shoeboxes every year when I was a kid and wanted to get ds into 'giving something back' to others less fortunate.Genuinely interested 2nd poster why would this be viewed negatively?

Runoutofideas · 15/10/2013 17:46

I think it is something to do with the organisation putting in Christian literature with the present and only giving to those who convert to Christianity. Am prepared to be enlightened though if I'm wrong on that.

JerseySpud · 15/10/2013 17:46

Yes lets give a gift to a child and also some religious propaganda as well Hmm

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/10/2013 17:55

What about "Help a London Child" ?

Is that Capital Radio that does this?

Rosvita · 15/10/2013 17:57

Ooo interesting-hadn't thought about the religious propaganda aspect of it... If you take the religious part out of it essentially a nice idea though.

Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 15/10/2013 18:12

To be honest, I hadn't even thought of the religious side of it... I just did a box for a boy & a girl and sent it on... I am by no means religious just wanted to help... if there are other similar charities please feel free to post a link...it was no waymy Iintention to offend.

OP posts:
zeeboo · 15/10/2013 18:18

Yes, nothing wrong with trapping 6 year olds in a room, showing them nice toys and then only giving them the toys if they renounce their own religion, accept that their parents are sinners and promise to be good Christians. Hmm

I am a Christian myself and won't left my children anywhere near helping these bigoted zealots achieve their aims.

Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 15/10/2013 18:22

Is this really what they do? How do you know that.

How about this one then.

www.openhandscharity.org/shoe-box-appeal.htm

OP posts:
insanityscratching · 15/10/2013 18:32

How about www.marysmeals.org.uk/what-you-can-do/backpack-project/ ?

insanityscratching · 15/10/2013 18:33

Sorry www.marysmeals.org.uk/what-you-can-do/backpack-project/ this is a non denominational charity

heidihole · 15/10/2013 18:33

I believe that the Rotary shoebox appeal is non religious.

Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 15/10/2013 18:51

Feel free to post any worthy charities. ..

OP posts:
MamaBear17 · 15/10/2013 19:03

There was poster on here last year who said that her children had received a box and hadn't been forced to convert to Christianity at all. There is further information on the Operation Christmas Child website to say that they include a pamphlet but that is all. In not religious at all but participate in this through my school for the reasons the op has described. Im not looking to have an argument here, each to their own, just wanted to put my two pennies in as I think the op's heart is in the right place and some times the anti- operation Christmas child posts can make people feel bad.

Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 15/10/2013 19:07

Thanks Mamabear... each to there own...this site has definitely made me realise that people can get so worked up over trivial things. .. I wasn't expecting to be told to expect a back lash :-/

OP posts:
WaitMonkey · 15/10/2013 19:25

There has been hundreds of threads about this on here over the year's. Do a search and have a read. I learnt loads about them on here, and certainly won't be supporting them again.

Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 15/10/2013 19:29

Really? Ive only been on here a few weeks... I actually thought posting the link was a nice thing, didn't realise half of the stuff I have been told x

OP posts:
Iamsanta · 15/10/2013 19:49

We do several boxes every year for DCs to take into school.

I was told that a pamphlet would be included and that is all....no one being forced into any religion. I was told this by someone who volunteers for them.

jamtoast12 · 15/10/2013 20:47

We do this through school, rainbows and brownies...nothing religious at all (pamphlet that's all). Personally, both me and the kids love doing them!

NannyPlumForPM · 15/10/2013 20:52

Gosh bankers first buying ds a Christmas eve hamper and now wanting to give to charity?!?! YOU EVIL WOMAN YOU Halloween Wink please don't let it put you off mumsnet- we're mostly quite nice actually!! Halloween Smile

Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 15/10/2013 21:38

Im starting to think there is something wrong with me :-/

OP posts:
FunnyRunner · 15/10/2013 21:45

I have some experience with these boxes (teacher) and they always say DON'T put in any religious materials because they may be going to kids in countries where Christian literature etc is forbidden. So am a bit startled at the claim they put in religious stuff themselves. Is there any evidence of this or are people just assuming they do this? Genuinely interested.

FunnyRunner · 15/10/2013 21:46

And OP nothing wrong with you - it's a nice thought :) If you have any reservations maybe you'll get more helpful links from others.

exexpat · 15/10/2013 23:47

The main aim of Operation Christmas Child is to get children to sign up for a 12-step 'discipleship' course called The Greatest Journey. If you have a browse around the Samaritan's Purse/OCC websites you will quickly realise it is a huge US right-wing, fundamentalist, evangelical organisation:

www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/about-the-greatest-journey/

However, they don't mention any of this when they promote the scheme in British schools.

There are lots of better schemes which don't come with religious baggage, like the Rotary Club one, the Mary's Meals Backpack Project, Link to Hope, or numerous small local projects which collect gifts for people in refuges, deprived children etc.

exexpat · 15/10/2013 23:51

Sorry, forgot to make the link clickable:

www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/about-the-greatest-journey/

If anyone is interested, there have been two huge threads on OCC on Mumsnet in the past couple of weeks (here and here), and the head of communications of Samaritan's Purse came on, admitted that the way the scheme had been promoted in schools did not give an honest picture of what it was about, and has since written a new leaflet for schools - but they haven't actually sent it to schools, and to read it you have to register with the OCC website.