The Christmas shoebox appeal letters have been issued. Who is dodgy? Who is ok?

[Tinker]

We've had one re 21st Century Child. Will have to check but think isn't one of the prosletysing ones.

Niecie, I am not saying anything about anyone, however local councils, after much investigation, have felt it best to advise schools to stay away from it unless they are very sure of themselves.

Please do not come at me all passive aggressive I do not have time to defend myself singularly when I am not the only person making the same point.

GoldenOldie, You were the only one who mentioned anti-muslim lectures and making the children attend Sunday School so I was wondering how you knew, that's all. I hardly think that is passive aggressive.

If the organisation are not doing what they say in the leaflet I for one would want to know. These stories are new to me. I took the leaflet on its face value but maybe I have been naive.

The things I said came from the links in this and another thread, I am not the first to mention them, however that may have been in the other thread.

The information is available on the internet in various places, I believe there is a link in this thread that takes you to a newspaper article that covers some of it.

THe fact is that taking anything at face value is difficult these days simply because people know better than to be straight about things they know some people will not like! These will not be the first charities that have presented things in a more rosey light than is reality!

I felt the final question was passive aggressive, however I may be over-reacting, I am trying to do far to many things today - really I shouldn't be doing this!

I didn't make my last question very 'flowery' I must admit. It was perhaps a little blunt - I was in a hurry too. Less haste more speed and all that (Do I have that the right way round, I am never entirely sure?)

Think it is more haste less speed? Am probably wrong though!

Thanks for the insights here. I shall ask the co-ordinators of both my children's school schemes some hard questions about what happens out in the field.

I don't mind leaflets but I would object to hard-line evangelical preaching. Especially as I'm RC and I understand that this organisation has 'converted' some Catholics in South America.

Please read this page before making up your mind.

I am coordinating the Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection for my church (baptist). I was worried last year by claims that the children were in some way made to read/listen to evangelistic material. Although I am a christian, I believe it is a free choice for everyone and gifts should not come with strings attached.

If you look at the American OCC website and the English one, there are differences. The English branch of the organization certainly do not put any literature in the boxes. Please look at Wobblewibbles link above.

Last year I spoke to several people and contacted the organization before I was willing to continue the organization of boxes. I would encourage everyone to do it as for some children this is the only gift they get.

Not sure how up to date this is but had heard hings about this last year when dd's school did it - I emailed the hq querying this and apparently its an old investigation (where bibles etc were out in boxes) but now its just a 'thisbox brought to you by ...' type leaflet not loads of literatre.
Re: hearing back, a couple of years ago sils children sent boxes through operation xmas child and neice got a letter back form the girl who had received her box - they are still in touch 3 years on, sending letters to each other etc. Seems such a shame that the thought and kindness that goes into making and preparingboxes is over shadowed by this ....