What can i put in a shoe box appeal box for teenagers?

[NogginOfRum]

Most years i try to do one or two shoe boxes and always end up filling them for babie/toddler age because it's easy.

This year i would like to do some for an older age, teenager, but what on earth should i put in them?

Any suggestions for boys and girls would be appreciated

is it for a boys or girl? if its a girl i would put in lip gloss, claires accessory vouchers for couple of quid, a hair brush, some nice bubble bath, couple sachets of nice drinking chocolate,some marshmallows to go in the hot choc, fluffy socks, hairbands, a nice toothbrush, impulse and nice pens and writing paper.
for a boy i would put in lynx bodyspray and shower gel, playing cards, a comb and toothbrush, a book token, writing pad and pen.

Hi Noggin. I always do shoe boxes for teenage boy as I knew someone involved in one of these schemes who said that this is the least popular age group. Advice also was not to forget they don't have a lot of the stuff we think of as every-day essentials. I put in a selection of things like: basic toiletries (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, roll-on men's deo, flannel, comb); basic stationery (pens, pencils, rubber, sharpener, ruler, note book). Playing cards; dominos; hat/gloves; socks; belt (pound shop usually have all of these) some sweets.

not sure the vouchers would be any good - don't most of them go to Eastern Europe?

are they to go overseas???

We are also told not to put in any liquids so that rules out the bubble bath etc. I am doing one for a teenage girl this year and planning on including some sweets, scarf and hat set (already bought in Tesco), stationery (also Tesco), pretty hairbrush, hair accessories, maybe socks, a make-up bag with some basics in.

i would love to do one of these - how do you get involved? can you give me a link??

The Samaritans do a Shoe Box apeal Luvaduck, they'll have ideas for content too, I think.

Here you go.

one thing they do always like, whatever age, is paper and stationary products as they often cannot go to school and learn for lack of resources such as stationary stuff.

We haven't had the annual Operation Christmas Child controversy thread yet, have we?

Is there one? I totally missed that one! I do it every year through Guiding and Church. We use a local charity. Is that wrong then? Not that I care, you understand, I'll do what I want anyway!

Some schemes will not let you put sweets in as it contravenes customs as foodstuffs

boys: plastecine ot modelling clay (don't laugh, even 15/16 year olds like to play sometimes)
socks,
hat/baseball cap
cheap watch (not battery)
wind up torch
Tennis ball
roll-on
comb
face cloth
soap
toothpaste/brush
note pad
pens/pencils etc
'cool' necklace or wristlet (think surfer)

Why not ask on the Living Overseas section for thoughts? And it is worth mentioning the country your box is going to because what kids can get hold of easily will vary from place to place.

Actually, there is a thread this year, although no one has started shouting yet.

And from another perspective this thread raises some interesting questions about where the boxes really go.

oh yes P&L, I remember that. Must admit, made me think twice about doing one this year.

I think we will do one for Link Romania; no one seems to have anything bad to say about them.

We buy all our cards and as many presents as we can from Oxfam and Unicef. I think the shoeboxes are patronising, if we really want to help the poorer kids rehydrat solutions and calpol would be a better place to start.

Thanks for all the responses and suggestions.

I've also been told that teenage boys are the least popular choice for people so thats why i thought i'd do one for this age this year.

Not clued up on the issues surrounding operation christmas child, so might read up on that.

Shame i can't afford to buy myself a new pair of shoes just for the box

I used to organise this for my church - i tried to encourage people to go for this age group and one person filled an entire shoebox with bars of soap and nothing else!!

Noggin - it's worth reading the thread P&L linked to as it was about operation christmas child ending up in the wrong place.

I agree with Serin. Whilst the boxes are made up with all the good will in the world, they can come across as patronising (and sometimes offensive) to the recipients if the target countries are not researched properly by the charities.

Here are a few ideas for boys10-14
Gloves,bandana,pliers,hammer/nails screw driver/ screws, measuring tape,I very soap(it floats),face cloth,bandages,in a plastic soap box put in a bobber,fishing line ,fishing hooks( wind fishing line on an old bobbin) ,kite,balls,toothbrush,comb,notebook,pens,pencil/sharpener,eraser,nylon clothes line/ clothes pins,flip flops,swim trunks,t shirt,duct tape,coloured pencils,kaleidoscope ,magnifying glass,harmonica,hat sunglasses, puzzle ,flash light (extra batteries)collapsible cup, cereal dish, belt,whistle,balloons,leather bracelet,plastic pony beads,

Women’s Aid also do show boxes and I always do 3 - one for a woman, one for a teen girl and one for a teen boy as that could have been us if it wasn’t for my parents,
Teen boy I put in toiletries, tooth brush/paste, hit stuff, nice trendy smellies, decent school stuff like pens etc ( I teach in a deprived area and the pencil cases really do show the difference between the haves and the have nots) , pack of cards, gloves, hat, socks, book, bouncy ball/tennis ball, boy tac, sellotape, Plus other things my own DS comments on Or likes.
Dd loves doing the teen girl one and stuffs it full of Primark and revolution stuff, cleansers, cotton wool pads, skincare, make up, socks, san pads, nice body spray - usually do boots 3 for 2 or soap and glory deals. Tooth brush/paste, loads of stationery and nice notebooks and same as above re pencil case with bits in. Bought one of this plastic cups with straw bottles they all like the other day in Tesco as it was reduced to £2 and was stuffed full of stationery. Hat, scarf, gloves, tights, socks, jewellery.
Girls are so much easier!!

Sorry am on phone do excuse typos - shoe boxes!!

Is the Women’s aid one distributed in the UK?