Christmas Shoeboxes

[Joanie]

Someone at my work has just emailed everyone saying she is collecting items for the christmas shoebox. This is a worthy cause, distributing gifts to needy children in other countries at christmas. The gifts are given regardless of the religion of the person etc, BUT
I do have a bit of a problem with the ethos of the organisation whose mission is 'Meeting critical needs of victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster while sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.' It was founded by Billy Graham etc many years ago and has an evangelical bent.
My questions (at last you think!) are -

1. Is it a bit churlish of me to point out the message of this organisation to people before they give &
2. Does anyone know of a non-religious organisation who does a similar shoebox as an alternative? Thank y'll

there have been a few threads on this lately - I don't remember if there are alternatives or not

Forgot to add - this is the organisation -www.samaritanspurse.co.uk

We've done this through smileinternational.org- there was no mention of religion except to say they don't include Christian literature and that they distribute the boxes regardless of religion, politics etc...HTH

We've done it through Operation Christmas Child - the one you refer too. I think they only put religious literature in it where it's appropriate.