Operation Christmas Child - secular alternative?

[GeorginaA]

I'm sure this topic has been done last year, but I couldn't remember the outcome, searched and couldn't find it.

So, ds1 comes home with the Operation Christmas Child leaflets from school. I like the principle, and I think it would be good for him to focus on giving a bit more rather than receiving. However, I really dislike them being used as a vehicle for proselytising young children. Actually, dislike is an understatement - I've discovered that I really do feel quite strongly about it after looking at \link{http://www.samaritanspurse.org/their website} in more depth.

So anyway, if I refuse to do one (a) will ds1 be very left out at school for not having done one, or is it only a minority of parents that end up doing it anyway and (b) is there a secular equivalent shoebox scheme without all the literature and "ministering" to go alongside...

Anyway, Phillipat has admirably answered Georgina's question.
Another miracle from the oracle of Goddess MN.

Zippi..I know where you're coming from but I also know from many years of experience that the link between the original intentions of the giver and the spirit in which actual goods are received is so tenuous.

In any case,don't most freebies come with a catch? As apoor student I sat through a day long timeshare presentation in order to get a free pass to Disneyworld.

FWIW,I have issues with prosletysing religious folk of all sorts.

As a child, an abiding memory is of people coming to bang on our door late at night to tell my father,a headmaster that the missionaries living on the island were down at his school,whipping the kids into religious frenzies. These were effectively stone age people who were being taugt hymns with lines like 'My heart was black with sin, until the Lord came in'.

We even had one boy (raging spitting speakin in tongues) tied up under our house (on stilts) as he had run amok with a machete! Medics had to come and sedate him.

I just like the thought of packing off a few bits and bobs off to a kid somewhere else in the spirit of Christian charity.It is perhaps the only charitable gesture I make where I force myself not to think too much.

And I'm the woman who siphons off half the stuff my kids get to give to other people and doesn't allow presents at our birthday parties so I reckon my right on credentials are fairly intact.

zippideedoodah (sorry, always say that when I read your name lol)

could you please link me that info from Save the Children etc if possible?

We always do Operation Christmas Child. I want to see what other Christian organisations say about it. This is the first time I've heard anything bad about it, and as I'm about to start the 5 boxes (one from each child)... I feel I need to be more informed.

Ta

for marslady

thank you phillipat

bloody useful thread
got nowhere looking for this info last year
thanks all

okay....

having read that article I feel that I can still send the boxes in good faith.

They say that the literature is not distributed in Muslim countries and wouldn't be allowed.

***No box recipient is forced to accept religious literature, Applin stresses, and none is distributed in Muslim countries because the authorities do not allow it. He says that the US website from which the Graham newsletter originated "has an unfortunate way of putting things and is written from a US standpoint".

Regarding Graham's anti-Islam comments, he says: "I'm concerned that such things are said in such a public way, and the fact that we work with Muslims means these statements do not help us."

Graham was one of the founding trustees of SPI and remains on its board. But Applin says "he's never here" for board meetings, adding: "He shoots from the hip and I don't think his comments represent official Samaritan's Purse policy in the US." ***

Also, there are many people who say things that I don't agree with but the works they support don't deserve dumping because of them. That's just my opinion, however I have no problem with GeorginaA not wishing to use a Christian organisation for giving.

In our house the children help fill the boxes and we talk about people in need. It helps them appreciate what they have. They have many friends with far more than they have but recognise that there are even more people with a lot less.

Thanks for the link. Will probably look into it some more, but for now, this year I think we'll send the boxes as normal.

Oh we're all as bad as each other.
Christian worship is illegal in Saudi.

FROM THE UNITARIAN PEACE FELLOWSHIP
That this General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches supports the proposed establishment of a Government Ministry for Peace.

FROM TWELVE MEMBERS
That this General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches is seriously concerned about the methods used by the organisation known as Samaritan's Purse to promote its form of Christianity. Its use of the Christmas Shoebox Appeal, under the name of Operation Christmas Child, according to its own literature, website and video, is simply a means of evangelising vulnerable children. This General Assembly alerts its associated congregations and bodies to the methods of this organisation and calls upon Samaritan's Purse in this country to be more open about its aims.

fromHere

sorry, md, but I honestly don't understand what that has to do with it?

Don't be sorry.
I'm riffing on the theme of pushing religion down people's throats.

Back to the original post. My 2 aren't at school yet and I'm dreading things like this TBH. It's the pressure of the school and the dictating of giving.

I've thought about the idea of giving to charity though and was wondering whether you could find something more local where you can 'know' what goes on.

One of my friends was a teacher at a primary school in London. Her school didn't 'do' Christmas and she was sad about it as a couple of her pupils were living in refuges who presumably wouldn't have a great time.

Maybe you could find out if there are refuges or local charities you DS could give to instead.

Not much help really, but I'm with you on this.

Gem, that's a good idea - I might ask around and see if there's anyone collecting wrapped gifts for local refuges or shelters.

I have to say, after the reaction I got on here, I'm now really worried for my ds at school if we end up being the only family not doing one I really hope he doesn't end up feeling under pressure.

When schools do this sort of thing, children end up taking the boxes in on different days in a steady stream. I'm sure it won't be noticed if your child doesn't take a box. It will just be assumed that he took it on another day - or people will have the sense to consider that you may have views on the whole issue.

I'm not sure that anyone here objected to you having your views. It was just odd asking if a secular organisation organised Christmas boxes. Bit like wondering why Muslims don't build synagogues .

Nicely put freckle. Precisely why it rankled with me.
Also,if you want to do something different to everyone else,you have to accept the consequences of that-not that the majority of people do them anyway.

We assume that people scrutinise our choices and beliefs far more than they actually do...

Georgina, I'm at the response you got on here, I must say !

IME, as the parent of 2 boys who have been through the same primary school as your DS1, not every single child does a box. In fact I think we only did boxes twice. Don't worry about not doing one. Really.

It's as mad an idea as....Milupa offering breastfeeding advice!

One of the things that Guardian article said was that these boxes are basically charitable for the giver rather than for the receiver - it simply isn't worth while shipping the boxes overseas unless the charity has another motive.

And this thread really shows that our families can gain so much from the putting together of a box. Such a shame that there isn't a UK charity that collects them for women's refuges etc. Refuge apparent has a children christmas gift appeal but I can't find any info.

Georgina, I'd copy the guardian article to your headteacher...

But there's nothing to stop people doing that ppt!
Why do we need an organised charity to do it for us??

I have donated piles of glossy magazines to women's refuges for a start. Just found out where hq was in the book and rang them up. They were delighted-a little bit of luxury and escapism that they could ill afford to budget for.

Also instead of b'day presents,I've asked people to contribute to local Sure Star scheme.

Our local radio station has an appeal for underprivileged kids. You just drop something suitable off in their foyer.
Great idea.

well yes, md, you're right, anyone could do it... but you know, we're british!

Women's refuges are also great for beauty products you've tried but found out you didn't like them, the colour wasn't right, they weren't right for your skin, etc.

Ditto stuff you get from business travel - like those washing kits some airlines provide on overseas flights w/a toothbrush, etc.

Or samples you get in the post.

A lot of women have to flee w/o even so much as a bottle of shampoo.

?
!