Alternative Christmas Box Scheme?

[BarnMummy]

Last year DS1's school asked us to take part in the Samaritans' Purse Christmas Box scheme Operation Christmas Child. While I like the principle of the scheme, I was concerned about some aspects of the Samaritans' Purse organisation, and with the backing of the School Governors, I am hoping to find a similar scheme which donates on a "no strings" basis.

Does anyone have any thoughts as to other organisations / schemes we could look into?

Thanks!

I would contact save the children and ask them.

The Rotary club do a shoe box appeal all year round and you only have to donate £2 per box.

Contact your local branch.

They run this in my DD's school - and as my views on the organisation are similar to yours - I too tried to find an alternative. Neither Save The Children or Oxfam run such a scheme. I'm trying to think of who else I contacted but I couldn't find an alternative.

Maybe Barnados for a UK based organisation?

Try contacting local homeless/refuge/family charities- we've worked closely with the mustard tree in Manchester who are fab, collected clothes and toys and a member of staff came and spoke to the Rainbows.

Aquabox, coordinated by the Rotary Club
www.aquabox.org/
You can fill a box, but it's from a prescribed list, not freely (or you can pay for their volunteers to fill the box standardly). I don't think you'll find anything that sends freely-packed boxes internationally in the same way that Samaritan's Purse do, because tbh that's a shamefully inefficient way to help people. It may be different if it's for local people (so donors are likely to have a reasonable idea of what'll be appreciated by recipients and the boxes aren't being shipped half way across the world).

Thank you for all your replies - I know (from friends who work in the industry) that the major charities don't do schemes like this for exactly the reason you state Sidheag, that it's ridiculously costly per box - for myself I would do something different, but I do think it can help primary age children to understand the concept of giving.

V interesting about Rotary, this is the only other one I had heard of - I may look at the details, but I think that last year choosing the contents was a big part of understanding the point for DS1 (who is 5).

I really like the idea of doing it locally - I will look into this - we live in what most people think is a pretty wealthy area, but I know that in fact there is poverty very close by.

Thanks again.

The Rotary also do a shoebox scheme, which sends to Eastern Europe. Can do a Toys box, a Household Box, Teenager box etc, but not from a prescribed list at all.

We do ours for a local refuge now, give them to council children services and they pass them on, I pick up good activity books in The works and wrap them up. I really love giving to them and trying to make a tiny bit of happiness.. knowing that they are not in there home for Christmas

Our school doesn't do the Aquabox one, it does this one

Ah - thank you for the extra info on Rotary - will definitely look into that. I'll also contact local Childrens Services and see if they do anything.