2008 Christmas Shoeboxes

bravobeastie

freaked_out wrote: »

I too am uneasy about fundamentalist Christians who give out our boxes without Literature but with the words ' A present from Jesus'.

I might write ' A PRESENT FROM THE STOKES FAMILY IN ENGLAND' across mine in permanent marker

As i said earlier that i will be participating in this this year but for the sake of my children.

I think this man, who makes offensive remarks regarding the muslim faith and tries to conform children who already have their own faith, are the sort of people who are inciting wars rather than going out and helping the people caught up in it.

Hope that makes sense? It does in my head but then so do many things that leaves other people confused lol

got-it-spend-it

bravobeastie wrote: »

Our school handed out the letters yesterday for this. I was disgusted by the 'guidelines' that everything has to be brand new and also you have to give a cheque for £2.50

I will be doing this so my children don't feel left out at school but i have rang the school this morning and they had no idea about the controversy that surrounds this organisation.

There are children in this country who would also be grateful for christmas presents, elderly people who would benefit form a pair of slippers, a fleece blanket or £5 on their gas meter or a bit of food.

Also why does this stuff have to be brand new? Surely if they have nothing, anything would be gratefully received, also if you read the smallprint anything the 'charity' find unsuitable in the boxes they will remove for their own use.

:mad:

Why are people so quick to help those other than the ones in their own country?

I think actually that there are a lot of people who do good for people in this country as well. Locally to me there is a charity that gives shoeboxes to underprivileged families, and I will be giving to the as well. I also give food items to our local basics bank.

I don't think that is the case that people don't give locally, but this thread was set up to discuss people doing boxes to send abroad, hence that is mostly what people are talking about here. I'd be really interested to hear what local things there are around the country to help the elderly, children etc as well.

GISI x

bravobeastie

got-it-spend-it wrote: »

I think actually that there are a lot of people who do good for people in this country as well. Locally to me there is a charity that gives shoeboxes to underprivileged families, and I will be giving to the as well. I also give food items to our local basics bank.

I don't think that is the case that people don't give locally, but this thread was set up to discuss people doing boxes to send abroad, hence that is mostly what people are talking about here. I'd be really interested to hear what local things there are around the country to help the elderly, children etc as well.

GISI x

Hi

Its not so much the giving things to children/families in other countries that has annoyed me. It is the guidelines and stipulations as well as the request for additional money to be spent whilst doing it.

I know there are a lot of people who do good for people in this country too, most of them i should imagine have posted on this thread, but i was bought up with the 'charity begins at home' cliche and to be honest i think that is what the local schools should be promoting, not asking parents to go out and buy brand new things when we are all suffering at the moment with inflated food and heating costs.

got-it-spend-it

Bravobeastie, I totally agree that it is ridculous that there is a stipulation that the things need to be new. There is nothing wrong with hand me downs and recycling toys in my opinion. The local schemes that I am giving to will happily take second hand items provided they are in good condition and complete (things like puzzles) which I think is great. I don't have any children, but I will asking my little sister (8) and niece (2, so I will ask her Mum) if they have a toy each they don't play with anymore that they would like to give.

I am really interested to know what kind of other things people are doing locally as it might prompt ideas for others etc...

GISI x

maytaurus

suec wrote: »

The Mod have realeased a press article this morning saying that can we not send parcel boxes for the troops as this stops personnel post getting to the troops. So we cant do good even if we wanted to.

AS as thevicster & I have said have a look at
http://www.supportoursoldiers.co.uk/
they send the things for you as they have permission from the M.O.D''
''IMPORTANT NOTICE
OUR XMAS PARCEL APPEAL WILL BE GOING AHEAD AS PLANNED, WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE M.O.D.''
I just wish the news and press people had mentioned this !:mad:

logan

We will be doing the romania one this year as the school are collecting them in

Charlie23

Hi I'm doing 2 boxes this year - my first. I'm going to do them with link Romania. My dd's nursery are doing them but it's with samaritans purse so i won't be doing that.
I've bought most things but i just wondered how i pack it? Do i take everything out of their boxes/packs and put it in the wash bags and pencil cases i've bought or do i leave it all in the packaging? I'm just wondering about the space factor.
Also for the Link Romania i wrap it all together don't i not seperate like smaritans purse?
I'm really glad i've been able to do it this year. I just hope the boxes will be ok.
Thanks

RustyFlange

Hi Guys, please forgive my ignorance on this matter however on Friday the children at my sons school were sent home leaflets for Samaritans purse boxes. Am I right in thinking this is the wrong one to be doing boxes for? or am I imagining it?

My son doesn't know about doing the boxes as yet but if it isn't a good one I would rather not do one for them and find one locally or some other way so as he doesn't feel left out. I always remember doing these as a child however I think this was for samaritans purse, yet possibly not as it was years ago. I had great fun putting them together though!

Can someone give me some help with this please.?

The other question is are people like the schools aware that companys are using these schemes like this?

RoxieW

I donated my 2.50 online. Do I need to print anything out to put in the box? There didnt seem to be a page to print out?? Thanks

soblivion

Oh dear, I'm between a rock and a hard place, my children always do the samaritans purse boxes, right from when they were little at school, it was such a great thing, as they got a bit older they used their own pocket money to buy things and I added knitted bits and bought extra bits to fill the boxes. It was a great way to show them that not everyone is as fortunate. Even now they are much older even last year they/we still did the same. I'm sure last year it was only £2 for P&P and it was donation, I think there was some sort of back up plan if you couldn't mange the P&P (I think they would add your box to another less full one and do it that way?)
I was quite gutted to read the info, I can't find anybody as deserving as all those little children and the website certainly leaves you with a lump in your throat.
I didn't speak before, it's religion and that in itself causes way too many arguments. Everything always boils down to religion, I don't mean to be rude or offend anyone. It's now making me think twice about sending them, I know our 2 boxes aren't alot but then I can't help thinking that's 2 happy children who'd usually have nothing but do these children still recieve them if they don't accept they are from Jesus. My rock and my hard place. I just don't know what to do it keeps playing on my mind and deadline for our collection point is looming fast.