Ideas for Operational Christmas Child Shoeboxes.

Sallys_Savings

Thanks softstuff

I'll be picking the toothpaste up today (didnt notice it was on offer)

Good luck with your move

mamashaz

If you ask in shoe shops, they normally have boxes to give away. They are like gold dust in November - I ended up cutting up an enormous boot box last year!

Dustykitten

thriftmonster wrote:

Last year one of my kids asked why Santa didn't come to these kids. I explained that he did, but that the mummies and daddies couldn't afford any other presents

Has anyone else had this problem?

I have found this to be a bit of a problem as my kids beleive that the present which are from us (parents) comes from Santa - just as I beleived this when I was a kid too. My DS2 who is the most compassionate of mine just cannot understand why Santa does not give more stuff to the kids who need it the most - if only. like you I try to explain that they don't get any other presents just the Santa ones.

On a different note for those of you who are new to the boxes there is a cash contribution they ask for for each box to pay for it's delivery - I cannot remember the figure. Our school encouraged us to pay this online last year - you fill in a receipt number I think on the boxes to prevent any of the cash going astry - any views on this from those who have participated before?

Softstuff

Dustykitten wrote:

On a different note for those of you who are new to the boxes there is a cash contribution they ask for for each box to pay for it's delivery - I cannot remember the figure. Our school encouraged us to pay this online last year - you fill in a receipt number I think on the boxes to prevent any of the cash going astry - any views on this from those who have participated before?

I sent mine through a local charity when I found out they took them, they do not ask for a cash contribution with the boxes since they also have charity shops which pay towards that and they make the deliveries themselves along with foods, clothing, medical supplies etc.

Dustykitten

Just revisiting this thread as I now have a whole heap of boxes as all 3 DSs needed new shoes and trainers this week:eek:

I have been thinking about the 'cheap' things we can buy to put in and then it crossed my mind how ethical it is to buy things which may come from asian sweat shops where other poor children are being exploited for us to buy the things to give to other poor children with the middle men (ie tesco etc) making a profit. Am I thinking about this too much???

Chipps

I have been thinking about the 'cheap' things we can buy to put in and then it crossed my mind how ethical it is to buy things which may come from asian sweat shops where other poor children are being exploited for us to buy the things to give to other poor children with the middle men (ie tesco etc) making a profit. Am I thinking about this too much???

It is possible to put "cheap" things in that don't come into that category. A friend of mine buys dolls & soft toys from charity shops & refurbishes them. She has found some lovely things in excellent condition. If they have nice clothes, she washes & irons them, but if the clothes are torn or not very attractive she makes new ones. You wouldn't know they were 2nd hand by the time she has finished with them. Some charity shops sort out little things in good condition & put them in a box labelled "shoebox toys" - they usually sell them for about 50p each.

Sallys_Savings

In the stationery...back to school section in Tescos there are a few bargains that are great for these shoe boxes...

Pack of 12 pencils down to 12p
Pack of 12 coloured biros (all colours, pink, yellow, blue etc) down to 12p
Pack of 48 crayons down to 12ppack of 12 biros down to 12p
Pencil cases down to 38p

HopeElizzy

We have 2 shoeboxes and have started collecting.

I have a 4yo daughter and 2yo son so we're doing boxes for younger children and hopefully as they grow up we'll do boxes that mirror their ages. My 4yo is especially interested and went to look in her stuffed toy basket to find a nice toy for the box. My children seem to have loads of these that are hardly played with and look as good as new. She came back with 2 fimbles which I didn't even realise she had!:o I'm really pleased to see she's interested in giving as well as receiving christmas presents.

Thanks for all the good ideas and tips on this thread :beer:

Strepsy

Sallys_Savings wrote:

In the stationery...back to school section in Tescos there are a few bargains that are great for these shoe boxes...

Pack of 12 pencils down to 12p
Pack of 12 coloured biros (all colours, pink, yellow, blue etc) down to 12p
Pack of 48 crayons down to 12ppack of 12 biros down to 12p
Pencil cases down to 38p

Thanks for that, I got a load of stuff for our boxes today. Spent less than a fiver and had a bag brimming with stationary.

They also had Pukka pads for 24p which was brilliant for me as OH uses them for work and they're usually really expensive.

puddin_2

I would like to do this but for a non religious organisation, does anyone know of any please?