It's shoebox time again!

[babster]

Reading the stocking fillers threads has just reminded me.

There are several charities organising it, but Operation Christmas Child is here to give you the jist of it...

i am thinking of doing a soe box for operation christmad child this year, as have just got the lealeft from my dd1 nursery. last year my kids got presents presents from womens aid refuges as this is where i was staying at the time. i amthinking of sending a box of gifts to the local refuge as i know i really appricated the kindness they showed me and my kids last xmas.

i think that whatever religion or wherever they are, if a needy child gets a shoebox,(which hopefully they do), with a few useful items to keep them warm and a little pressie to amuse them it's great! After all a child wont be thinking about "the bigger picture" and a toy and some snuggly things might just bring a smile to their faces...........every little helps! I for one remember tiny things people did for me in the past that i'll never forget!

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We didn't put a Xmas card in last year. We put a picture of my two boys and put a note on the back with their names and ages. I thought it would be nice if whoever received the box could see who it came from.

Ah but Marialuisa, I'm sure those children will appreciate the presents whether it is Christmas or not! And it teaches our kids about the meaning of 'giving' rather than just 'receiving'. Christmas is not a religious occasion for many people, but that doesn't mean they don't celebrate it. Muslims have their Eid pretty soon so they can just pretend to their kids that the presents are a part of that.

I think it's nice that no matter what the culture or religion, we are able to share with others. Dd celebrated Diwali at her nursery the other day, and I'm a Catholic, but I wouldn't dream of stopping her joining in the Hindu traditions with the other kids! Let's look beyond culture and religion for a change!

dd1's school have just done a shoebox appeal as part of the harvest festival which I thought was nice. We always have a really nice time deciding what to put in and dd1 gets really into it. The oxfam advert was on the other day and she looked all wistful and solemn and asked me if that was where our shoebox would go.