Ideas for Operational Christmas Child Shoeboxes.

Rachel021967

I'm looking for ideas to fill shoeboxes for a 2-4 year old girl, 10-14year old girl and 10-14year old boy. What sort of things would you put in the box? I especially need ideas for the 10-14year old boy box. Anybody else filling a box this year?

doddsy

Toothpaste/toothbrush
gloves/hat
pencils, pencil sharpener
paper lined and plain
eraser (apparently they re-use the paper over and over)
colouring pens
tennis ball
bouncy ball
harmonica
comb
sweets (not chocolate)

hth
doddsy

recovering_spendaholic

I do these boxes every year and my friend works for the Samaritans Purse and has actually been over with the boxes several times. Apparantly teenage girls crave hair stuff (bobbles, clips and stuff like that) and also sanitary towels like always. Boys like football stuff pictures of football players, stickers, football scarves, etc. plus playing cards. Pencils and rubbers and also crayons, plus I usually put a cheap little blackboard and chalks in younger children's ones. My friend said that the kids all share the stuff they get - she said that they are not at all possessive with what they get - makes a change from my two who wouldn't share anything, despite having everything!

mcdonag

Rachel021967 wrote:

I'm looking for ideas to fill shoeboxes for a 2-4 year old girl, 10-14year old girl and 10-14year old boy. What sort of things would you put in the box? I especially need ideas for the 10-14year old boy box. Anybody else filling a box this year?

Clothing:

All types of clothing for children and adults, excluding second-hand underwear and babywear. Condition or quality. Would you wear it yourself? The Romanian climate is more severe than ours and we have limited facilities for washing or repairing garments. No second-hand underwear or socks.

No second-hand clothing for children under age 3 years.

New, wrapped items of underwear and babywear are acceptable.


Shoes:
In 'as-new' condition.
Not more than 5% visible wear.

Bedding, including duvets, pillows and blankets.
Clean and in good condition.


Sewing Material:

Wool, knitting needles,

Sewing items
Suitable for making garments or household furnishings.
Offcuts of material and odd balls of wool are also useful for our quilting or knitting groups.


Toys:
Clean, complete and in good condition.
No second-hand toys for children under age 3 years.


Electrical:

Irons, Kettles, Heaters,

Music centres, Radios, Hi-fi,

Washing machines.
Clean and known to be in working order please.

Washing machines should be twin tub type - automatics use too much water and electricity.
No 'fridges, freezers, or electric cookers please.

No record turntables on their own.

NO TVs: UK TVs are not worth the cost of conversion to the Romanian system.


Stationery:

Paper, Pens, Pencils, Colouring books, Crayons
Suitable for families with school children or for giving directly to schools.
These items are valuable because children may be refused lessons if they do not have the proper equipment.


Household Goods:

Crockery, Cutlery, Cooking utensils etc
All to be in good condition. Household linen including curtains, towels, table cloths.
Ensure that all breakables are adequately packed. Kitchen equipment only, no other household items or bric-a-brac.

Becles

Have a look in Poundland etc. You can get lovely fleecy hat and scarf sets for next to nothing.

A friend of my parents has been on a team distributing similar items to children with nothing. She said girls love hair bobbles and clips. Winnie the Pooh etc., for the little ones, and funky ones for the teenagers. Boys crave anything with the well known British football teams on, such as Liverpool, Arsenal and Man Utd.

They get really excited over things we take for granted, like soap and toothbrushes especially if they have characters on.

They also love British carrier bags. I sent some shirts and stuff out from my local football team shop, and one boy went off chuffed to bits with the club branded carrier bag!

Katgoddess

This is the link:

http://www.samaritanspurse.uk.com/occ/index.asp

Do the sweets have to be in the original bag? I'm thinking of spilting a couple of big bags, mixing them and putting in a clear freezer bag? Wrapped sweets like mints, I mean.

Rachel021967

Thanks..everyone.....Space..bar..not..working...Will..go..to..local..football..shop.....I'm..thinking..of..putting..loose..beads..and..leather..thread..so..they..can..make..their..own..customerised..jewellery.....Can..I..put..the..beads..in..loose?

Pink.

Hi Rachel,

There's an older thread about Samaritans Purse on the Discussion Time board that might interest you: Pass on some of our savings at Christmas

Pink

Prudent

I filled mine way back in February at the Claire's sale. I got a hat, scarf, gloves, loads of hair accessories, not books (will put in some pencils), fancy pens, novelty items like a snow globe. Also socks. Trying to remember now, but it looked lovely. Also put in some boots tolitries.

Softstuff

I just looked on the site, want to do this before I move away to Australia, but I can't find a drop of point near to me (did the search on the site). Does anyone know anywhere near Lancaster?

homersimpson_3

I'm looking for ideas to fill shoeboxes for a 2-4 year old girl, 10-14year old girl and 10-14year old boy. What sort of things would you put in the box? I especially need ideas for the 10-14year old boy box. Anybody else filling a box this year?

chocolate coins, pencils, felts, bubbles, little notebooks, little games, paper and envelopes, craft things (tonnes in pound shop), kaloidscope, bouncy balls, card and card trick book, magic things, marbles, springy which goes down stairs, hair bands, bobbles, smellies, video, dvd, skipping rope, books, jewellery, fairy wand and wings, face painting, grow your own plant set, cooking items (like the set they have in boots) (the list is endless!)