shoe box appeal - whatdo I put in it.

[twinsetandpearls]

Can't find the leaflet for dd shoebox appeal at school, I need to do it today, whatdo I put in it?

If it's like the one from nursery, it's made up to suit a boy or girl in varying age groups. Can't remember exactly but I always do the boy, 13 - 17 years. I think they prob get left out. You're not supposed to put anything in that uses batteries. I'll have a quick hunt for the leaflet.

I have the leaflet somewhere, will go find it...

And argh!!! I forgot to collect shoebox from MIL yesterday. Drat!

They have an appeal out this year to get people to do ones for 11+ as they are often age groups missed.

have found the website, mad panic over! THanks

1. Get medium sized show box and cover in wrapping paper.

1. Decide if for boy or girl and label on top of box. Mark age category 2-4 years, 5-9 years, 10-14 years.

1. Fill will unwrapped gifts from list below

1. Enclose £2 (or more if you want) in envelope. Cheques preferred payable to Samaritan's purse. Place on top of box.

1. Secure box with elastic band. Do not seal.

Ah, not bother writing it out now!

I now have another way to justify buying shoes. I'll just tell DH it's for charity.

I need to find a shoebox!

I heard bad things about Samaritan's Purse and that people shouldn't participate here

Go to a poundshop and buy up cheap toothbrushes and pencil sharpeners - these are always the most in demand. Just pop it in your box because they are checked anyway (some people really do put in too little / too much) and they collect spares of everything at the depots.

Wah! Samaritan's Purse - they're the ones that feel it necessary to ram religious outpourings down the throats of the needy and grateful.

You must worship God in order to receive gifts and you are vulnerable so you WILL believe (and you might just find a ticket to hell in your shoe box).

meant to add 'if you don't' inside parentheses

Our local anti-poverty team runs a Christmas toy scheme for referred local parents. I have helped sort OCC shoeboxes in the past but last year I discovered this local scheme and went to help out there. Both were really good fun, if anyone can spare an hour or so, it's really worth investigating what there is near you.

I refused to allow DS and DD to participate in this. Being subjected to a religious tirade before you are allowed to obtain a shoebox of goodies is just not on. Bribery to attract potential "converts" - absolutely abhorent!

We've got a poster up on the noticeboard outside school asking us to donate £20 towards a hamper for Operation Rudolph

£20!!!

Bah! All that stuff about identified familes...there's those that wish they were frigging identified and those that are more mortified than identified but don't wish to be ungrateful OR say no to a great feck off hamper.

Blimey - I wouldn't mind getting an operation rudolph hamper - tickets to the panto and walkers sensations. Might have to move to nottingham for next Xmas!!

I'm assuming you have to ask someone to 'identify' you, you don't just get someone knocking on your door dressed as Rudolph because your HV thought your kids looked a bit scruffy.

I don't see anything wrong with packing a box for a child in need in the name of Christianity. DD will be bringing a box.

If this group was promoting a different religeon (and one of their holidays) I bet no one would dare criticise it.

Incidentally, one of the requirements on our list is the contents have no political or religeous message.

That'll be so you don't in any way contradict their own 'special' religious message uwila. They say that on the S.Purse leaflets - or at least they did a couple of years ago.

How can you not see what's wrong with it? I'm even more dismayed and shocked after reading the Guardian article - link below.

I ahd no idea that this was the case. We have just done 2 boxes and dd and ds really enjoyed choosing things to put in them. I'm not sure how i feel about it now. We were going to do it every year but I'm really not comfortable with what the guardian article had to say. I do other things for charity but this seemed like such a nice way for my children to be actively involved.

I don't have a problem with speading the word of Christianity through peaceful means. And this seems very peaceful.

And as far as that goes, I don't have a problem with any religeon spreading the word of their God (or Gods) through peaceful means. Don't all religeons advocate the spread of their religeon? Why is that a bad thing?

Agreed its 'peaceful' but spreading Christianity in Muslim communities?

And what about all the children in schools - many of whom might be of a different faith filling their shoe boxes whilst unaware of the religious message they are sending with that box? Interesting how Samaritan's Purse play down the Christian aspect in their marketing but not 'out on the filed'.

I liked the quote about desperate people and somebody with food in one hand and a bible in the other.

field