Hunt for things to put in charity christmas shoeboxes

jap200

safesound wrote:

All sounds wonderful, and I was very interested in participating until I did some research. Read the page and make of it what you will.
http://www.inminds.co.uk/occ.html

Interesting - but doesn't seem like a balanced or indeed even fact-based website. The claims on the website are in direct contradiction to the leaflet. This is not the place to start a Christian/Islamic discussion - so please lets not get into it! The boxes are distributed widely - not just to Islamic countries.

I support this scheme despite the fact that I am a firm atheist. Maybe I am being naive, but it is a way for me and my kids to give a little back at Christmas time.

If you don't like the ethos - then don't participate - simple as that!

K9cuddles

What a briliant thread! I'm doing the Link Romania Family shoebox appeal this year.. that's' for all your ideas!!!

Strepsy

mum1964 wrote:

Just looked at wesite, kids are really up for this. Both came down with 7 shoeboxes between them, looks as though its going to be a busy time in our house. Both boys (12/13) keen to make boxes for boys of their age group. They have routed around house and found
2 packets of 10 gel pens bought last week in Tescos,
2 tubes if unopened toothpaste,BBD May 07
4 bars of unopened soap,
6 Baseball caps
2 packets of Jellybeans BBD Aug 2007
50 rubbers and pencils from the recent love to read promotion.
Packet of top trump cards duplicated never got around to taking them back.
3 packets of promotional playing cards, screwfix keep sending them to O/h
2 pocket kites.
4 red/yellow card and whistle referees sets, Who knows why?
9 Tennis balls still in the packets.


However what they really want to put in are those cheapy polastyrene planes you get at most christmas fetes. They have just told me the hours of pleasure that they got from them.

ANY ONE GOT ANY IDEAS WHERE I CAN GET THEM FROM
REGARDS AND THANKS FOR GREAT POST

Not sure the Top Trumps would be suitable, it's likely that the child won't speak/read English. I'm sure the cards would be fine though if they're pretty much just pictures? I usually try and keep away from words altogether unless it's a small brand name or something.

safesound

I agree the site seems biased towards their own agenda but that wasnt the only site I found. Please just be aware that not all charities are what they seem.

For other sites see:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1081349,00.html
http://www.geocities.com/occcriticism/
http://www.pursestrings.ca/

BTW, for the record I'm not even an athiest, I'm a nothing-ist :rotfl: as there isnt a religion for what I believe.

littleange

Thank you, think I might check out Link Romania one instead.

tubbies74

I have read with shock the links shown but still feel these children need a bit of joy at christmas my son aged 9 watched the promotional video on their site and was actually moved to tears and wanted to do something to help perhaps there is another charity of orphanage somewhere that could do with these gifts and is not religious based I am well a sort of christian I believe there is something I'm not sure what but that there is something and well my son and I would like to help someone less fortunate than ourselves can anyone point us in the right direction we have just come back from tescos armed with lots of goodies for 5 christmas boxes

Strepsy

safesound wrote:

I agree the site seems biased towards their own agenda but that wasnt the only site I found. Please just be aware that not all charities are what they seem.

For other sites see:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1081349,00.html
http://www.geocities.com/occcriticism/
http://www.pursestrings.ca/

BTW, for the record I'm not even an athiest, I'm a nothing-ist :rotfl: as there isnt a religion for what I believe.

Most of what you're linking to is quite a few years old. I have the current leaflet on my desk now and it clearly states that it is a religious organisation that will be 'sharing the good news of Jesus Christ', as they put it. Whatever the secondary aim they are doing so much good. The quotes and testimonies you've linked are very dodgy and as I say old. Maybe Samaritan's Purse has changed its policy since then and didn't used to state religious intention so clearly but it is fairly transparent anyway isn't it? CHRISTmas child boxes.

cabra1

I think it was in the Telegraph And Guardian
newspapers as well.Also I beleive BBC2
newsnight did a feature on it too,
I have not seen the link above before

A lot have moved over to this one below
as there are no religious motives behind it

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

jap200

cabra1 wrote:

I think it was in the Telegraph And Guardian
newspapers as well.Also I beleive BBC2
newsnight did a feature on it too,
I have not seen the link above before

A lot have moved over to this one below
as there are no religious motives behind it

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

I agree - this sounds like an excellent alternative for those not wanting to support Operation Christmas Child. I have checked the contents list that they suggest and they are almost identical. The important difference however, is that one box is given to a family and they therefore suggest including items for all members of the family - i.e. not age/sex related items.

http://www.linkromania.co.uk/Shoebox%20Leaflet%2005.pdf

I have edited my original post to include details of both organisations.

Now - after all these ethical discussions - can we get on with the 'hunt' for things to go in these boxes!

littleange

Strepsy wrote:

'sharing the good news of Jesus Christ'

Thats enough to put me off lol

I'm liking the family angle of Link Romania and the fact you can put shampoos and more useful things in

Theres a 2006 leaflet