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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Christmas shoeboxes

6 replies

Eliza9917 · 16/11/2017 12:03

Already posted this in the charity section but no responses.

Just had a quick google to look up places I can send Christmas shoeboxes to.

The armed forces would prefer we didn't send them any - www.gov.uk/government/news/generous-public-urged-think-twice-before-sending-unsolicited-christmas-gifts-to-troops

I'd like to do four boxes; adult male & female, child male & female.

Google is also full of reasons why we shouldn't support The Samaritans charity drive so I was wondering what other charities I can donate them to?

OP posts:
Paddington68 · 16/11/2017 12:08

Samaritan's Purse not The Samaritans surely, please don't confuse the two.

Whynotnowbaby · 16/11/2017 12:08

Lots of negatives for sending them abroad, ranging from them not being a really useful form of aid (taking up valuable shipping space for more useful things) to them forcing children to engage with Christian literature before giving them out. The school where I work makes up shoeboxes for homeless people with essentials. They are given our locally as part of a range of support over the Christmas period.

BanyanTree · 16/11/2017 12:18

There is a thread on the Christmas forum called £20 present ideas for a 14-year old boy They are talking about a Met Police drive for presents for DC in care. Looks like a really worthwhile cause.

I am not doing shoeboxes anymore.

Eliza9917 · 16/11/2017 12:46

My local foodbank is accepting boxes so i'll probably make some up for them.

OP posts:
exexpat · 16/11/2017 13:52

Is there any reason why you particularly want to do shoeboxes? There are lots of other ways of giving, Christmas-specific or otherwise, which don't involve putting a random collection of items in a shoebox and are often much more help. If you ask the food bank, they might well prefer a donation of specific items they can distribute as needed, or a cash gift they can put to the best use.

One of the local homeless charities I support locally is asking people not to give them any clothes or food this winter, just cash, as the donated items are often not what they need, and require a lot of space, time and effort to sort and store.

People I know who work in the homeless sector just tend to sigh wearily when some well-meaning person organises a local campaign for backpacks or shoeboxes or clothes for the homeless as a lot of the stuff is not helpful, does not reach those in need, and ends up in a big pile waiting for someone to volunteer to go through it and find a use for everything.

Frege · 16/11/2017 14:12

www.met.police.uk/applyregister/met-christmas-appeal/

This is the Met scheme, in case you are in London

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