Hunt for things to put in charity christmas shoeboxes

jap200

2 pair sets of magic gloves (i.e. one size fits all) in Matalan for £1.50
= 75p/pair
There are 3 different colourways: girls, boys and neutral

Strepsy

10 pack of coloured bouncy balls = 25p Tesco.

auntywalker2

Primark have gloves, boys were 2 pairs for a pound, as were ladies. Can't remember the price but they had hats too.

Asda/Tesco/Morrisons all do coloured pencils sets and biro sets at good prices, plus writing pads.

Claires had the £2 lucky dip bags which contain an assortment of girly things.

Home Bargains had pencil case sets for around 69p IIRC.

HTH

Lara

I have particiapted in this for several years now as my friend is a regional co-ordinator and goes to all her local schools giving talks every year and then goes back after the Christmas period to tell them where the boxes have been distributed to. Myself and my OH go to the warehouse to help her and all her helpers each year. I have seen the video's of the children receiving the boxes and the year before last a picture was in the magazine showing a little girl with her box and inside a toy mobile phone. This was one of my boxes! As my friend was co-ordinator she knew where the boxes from her warehouse had gone to and also knew that mine was the only box with a phone in!!

I usually make up 20+ boxes starting immediately after Christmas collecting lots of items throughout the year that will go in the shoeboxes. One thing I would say is please remember the things we take for granted i.e soap, flannel, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, socks/tights, hat, gloves and scarf and cuddly toy are the MOST important items you could put in. You may not think that a bar of soap and flannel etc is interesting but for the children who receive these boxes it is. It's their own and not anyone elses. I put in small pkts of tissues, hair clips for girls, a ball for both sexes and pen, paper, crayons, stencil sets, ruler, rubber etc. Put the soap in a plastic bag and the children then have a little bag to keep and line the lid with shiny paper as they take the paper off and keep this. They like shiny paper because they use it as a mirror. I always put something in the boxes for their Mum. It might be something like roll on deodorant, phial of perfume free from a counter i.e. Clarins, gloves or a beaded necklace, bracelet etc or something from Boots with all their offers on during the year. The children can then give these as a present to their Mum. Boots Basics are the cheapest for roll on deodorant as NO aerosol's are allowed. Tesco for soap, toothbrushes, and look in Superdrug aswell as they have some great offers on. If you buy the twin pack of toothbrushes put both in one box - the kids will pass it on to their parents with great joy.

Most of all enjoy wrapping the boxes (they are an absolute pain I know;) ) and remember each and every little item you put in their will make some child, big or small, a very happy person.

There are so many items that I can think of that these children need that I challenge myself to see how much I can get in each one. This year every box I do will have one of the tiny pots of play doh

Also remember if you can't get everything in your box don't worry just hand the leftovers to the warehouse contact because these will be put in the "extra's" box. These are boxes that the helpers in the warehouse delve into to put in some boxes because believe you me some boxes just come with sweets in and a toy. So a box like this will have items taken from the extra boxes to make it up to a full box. I bought two sets of the 50 play doh birthday celebrations and the ones I don't use will be passed onto them for their extra's box.

Remember to put a colourful card or postcard in the box with a little message as these are read out to the children and they like to keep them. You could also put a photo in of your animals or family aswell. I've put in postcards of Big Ben etc etc.

I hope you get great enjoyment and satisfaction once your box is labelled and the elastic band round it. I still do after all this time.

mummytomoo&roo

I've already done 3 boxes this week. I manged to find gloves for 69p in Wilkinson - pink, navy or neutral, one size.

I got some cute brush and bobbles sets in Asda for £1 in both pink or purple.

I have also bought things that I would normally put in party bags, little jigsaws, crayons etc and I always imagine what my little girls would say if they opened them up and had a good rummage as I do boxes for children the same age as them.

I also stock up on toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap etc when they are on BOGOF.

I love the idea of postcards or photos of pets, it makes it that bit more personal - will make a note for when I do the samaritans purse nearer christmas.

fuzzyrazer

This site has lots of cheap ideas,don't know postage....the Woodpecker on Stick toy is only 80p,would suit most ages and sexes.....fun toy...


Also a Telescope Kit @ 60p looks good for older kids,but don't know the size....




http://www.toycrazy.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYCAT&catid=18

strud41

mc donalds toys etc are always good i feel

loggy_2

fuzzyrazer wrote:

This site has lots of cheap ideas,don't know postage....the Woodpecker on Stick toy is only 80p,would suit most ages and sexes.....fun toy...


Also a Telescope Kit @ 60p looks good for older kids,but don't know the size....




http://www.toycrazy.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYCAT&catid=18

this is the delivery charges as quoted on sites homepage. seems quite fare p&p charges. hope this helps

There is a minimum delivery charge of £1.50 (I have had to recently increase it from £1.00 due to the new post office charges) and delivery charge goes up by weight (see 'About Us' page for prices). Maximum delivery charge to UK is £5.00 and delivery is free for orders over £100.

Lara

strud41 wrote:

mc donalds toys etc are always good i feel

I would check these out first because they aren't usually allowed and if found in boxes are taken out :(. Sorry.

Tesco soap - 3 bars in a pack for 19p. Split them into three different bags for three different boxes. Tesco roll on deodorant 35p each. Had to pick up 50 sets of soap - can you imagine the looks from other shoppers. Explained to checkout lady what they were for :)!

ikkleosu

There are otehr charities doign shoeboxes and not all have the same list of allowed adn banend items.

I collect for Blythswood - their checklists includes Clothing, underwear, shaving foam etc, things which are not on the Samartin purse list.

This week i made boxes for Girls aged 10-13.

From tesco:
Pink sparkly hat and gloves £2
Pink Sparkly Scarf £1
4 pairs of socks £1
5 pairs of pants £2
4 vests £2
Note book 46p
Set of 2 cosmetic purses (split for different boxes) £1
Little 4 colour biro 42p
Mini felt pens 25 24p
Pack of 100 hair bands £1

Also got small soft balls with characters on them 46p

Will also put in toothpaste toothbrush etc. And a homemade elsaticated plastic bead bracelet.