Hunt for things to put in charity christmas shoeboxes

jap200

I haven't seen a thread on this yet, so thought that I would start one.

(I have edited this post to include another organisation as opposed to just Samaritan's Purse as some people have questioned the 'ethics' of this organisation).

For the last few years I have filled shoeboxes (covered with xmas paper) with little gifts and toiletries for collection by various charites. One is called Samaritan's Purse - The shoeboxes are sent to children in Eastern Europe and Africa at Christmas time.

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

You can find details of your nearest drop-off or collection point on the website.

If you are unsure about the ethics of Samaritan's purse, there are other organisations that do similar things. A non-religious based one is Link Romania:

http://www.linkromania.co.uk/index.htm

The boxes provide a fun challenge for me and my kids to find the list of recommended items as cheaply as possible, so I thought that I would start a thread so that we can share ideas. It is also great to get the kids to think about less fortunate children at this time of year and even to select a few of their own 'nearly new' toys to donate.

Instructions for packing and labelling the box are here:
http://www.samaritanspurse.uk.com/occ/filling-a-box.asp
http://www.linkromania.co.uk/filling_a_box.htm

What to Pack
For Samaritan's purse you need to select boy/girl and which age category you are doing the box for.
For Link Romania, I think that each box goes to a family, so it is suggested that items suitable for all members of the family are included.

Due to import regulations, all goods should be new or very nearly new. Please use the following lists for ideas on what to pack, or not pack, in your shoe box

This is the list of recommended items for each shoebox for Samaritan's Purse - it is very similar to the list on Link Romania's website:

Please select from the following suggested YES items:

• A cuddly toy
• A toothbrush, toothpaste
• A wrapped bar of soap and flannel
• A notepad, colouring book
• Picture books
• Pencils and pencil sharpener, pens and paper
• A set of crayons or felt pens
• A hat, cap, gloves, scarf
• A small ball or tennis ball
• A puzzle e.g. small jigsaw
• For boys: a toy car, truck, passenger plane or similar item
• For girls: jewellery (e.g. pair of clip earrings, make-up or hair accessories)
• A greetings card or a photo of yourself
• Sweets (must be at least March of next year sell-by-date)
• Small musical instrument

Do not include items from any of the following categories:

• No chocolate due to customs regulations in some receiving countries
• Other edible items (e.g. crisps, biscuits, tinned food or cake)
• War related items (e.g. toy guns and soldiers, knives)
• Clothing (other than listed above)
• Glass containers, mirrors or fragile items
• Liquids of any type (e.g. blow bubbles, shampoos, bubble bath, toiletry sets or aerosols)
• Marbles or sharp objects
• Anything of a political, racial or religious nature
• Medicines
• Novels

So to start us off:

In Tesco this morning I picked up

• 3 X 4-packs of flannels in the £1 promotion - now on 3 for 2
• A little beany toy reduced to 74p
• 3x matchbox cars on promotion (1.80ish in total I think)
• Pack of 24 biros for 24p

Suggestions of other well-priced items would be gratefully received!

jammy123

Hi,
Im also doing this,i got a hat,scarf and glove set from poundland.
Im going to do 6 boxes,1 for each age group and sex.
Jayne

Harrietxxx

Packs of 25 colouring pencils 12p in my Tesco, also 12 gel pens 24p

Great thread by the way, I was also going to wrap up one of the operation or buckaroo games from the Tesco glitch and give it in at one of these places that takes presents at christmas, I think it is usually our local radio station.

ukpotters

My kids are doing this at school. But they are also asking for a cheque for £2 to cover P&P and admin. Is this normal???

geordielass

ukpotters wrote:

My kids are doing this at school. But they are also asking for a cheque for £2 to cover P&P and admin. Is this normal???

yes,this is normal

jap200

ukpotters wrote:

My kids are doing this at school. But they are also asking for a cheque for £2 to cover P&P and admin. Is this normal???

Yes - this is to cover the cost of handling and transporting these - you can imagine that this is a huge and costly task. You can pay on-line at the Samaritan purse website if you want and print out a slip to put in the box.

geordielass

The 'cars' toys including a lollipop,29p at home bargains are ideal as they are getting a sweet as well as a toy and the cars have moving wheels so can be played with.I also got a couple of dreamstreet colouring in books at home bargains for 19p today.On the left page is the already coloured picture and on the left a uncoloured picture for them to copy.Adsas packs of felt tip pens and couloured pencils are cheap too.

Strepsy

There're a lot of ideas and good buys on this thread in the Old Style section.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=243544

cabra1

We have done these in the past
on the form you have to state what
age group these boxes are for

BOY

age 2 to 4

age 5 to 9

age 10 to 14

......................

GIRL

age 2 to 4

age 5 to 9

age 10 to 14

the least popular catergory
is the boys age 10 to 14
they are always short of
boxes in this age group

So if your doing more than one
its something to think about
because most are going to
go with the younger age groups
probably easier to buy for.

Fibabe

My sister will be going out to Eastern Europe in December with the Samaritans Purse to hand these boxes out.

I've already made up 3 boxes for her to take.

Wilkinsons is always good. I got two toothbrushes for 15p and toothpaste of about 30p.

I also bought the pens from Tesco that Harrietxxx got too.

tubbies74

Great idea thanks op I will be showing this site to my 9 year old and we will be making up some shoe boxes