Operation Christmaschild Boxes

bbjohnny

Hello,

I was just wondering if anyone else on here does shoeboxes for Operation Christmaschild? I love doing them as I only have one child who never wants for much. If you don't do them, it only costs a few pounds to make one up. Think of something you were going to buy your child that they probably don't need, and use the money to make a child living in poverty a bit cheerier this year instead.

I picked up a few bits recently for my boxes and just wanted to share in case they help or inspire others and hopefully read some of the bargains other people have found too:

Tesco Value Toothbrushes - 10p for 2 and TV Toothpaste 17p

Tesco 4 Packs of pencils, erasers and sharpeners - 50p! In red sale boxes alongside the back to school items.

Packs of 3d foam stickers from Home Bargains - 29p

Pack of 8 x A5 notebooks from Poundland - £1 (obviously)

Medium sized CE marked Teddies from Poundland - £1

Dry Paintbrush Sets from Wilkinsons - 27p

Mini Feltpens or Pencil Crayons from Wilkinsons - 16p each

Disney Cars or Princess Mini Art Cases from Home Bargains - 49p each

Set of 6 blue combs from Wilkinsons - 69p

Metal Construction Set (like Mecanno) from Home Bargains - £1

Bath Sponges from Wilkinsons - 25p

8 x Mini Activity Books from Poundland - £1

And of course, Home Bargains are number one for cheap sweets as usual! These have to be BBE at least March 2012 btw, and no chocolate is allowed.


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gnasher18us

Good posting - thanks for the tips! Keep up the good work!

julie03

what a lovely idea , thought i would put a link incase anyone wants a look http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/

NiceGuyEddie_2

Brilliant, thanks for the reminder. I've already got a few colouring bits etc put aside and will not start getting a list together of the other items I need. Shame there's so few drop-off points in my area, I'm sure when I did this a few years ago there were more churches involved?

my3girls

Great thread op :money:

My daughter did the project shoebox afrghanistan this year & she was really touched by it and actually asked if she could do the childrens shoebox for christmas.

She said she would rather have no presents at all and make up presents for children who didn't have much - you can imagine i was tearing up at this lol

We've decided to do a couple for the teenage boy/girl as most people chose the younger kids. I've only got a couple of books so far so need to get a move on

Jenni
x

bbjohnny

Jenni your daughter sounds like a very giving person Julie thanks for the link - note that this can be used to find drop off points also as like NiceGuyEddie says, they don't do as many as they used to.

gnasher18us

bbjohnny wrote: »

Jenni your daughter sounds like a very giving person Julie thanks for the link - note that this can be used to find drop off points also as like NiceGuyEddie says, they don't do as many as they used to.

There's loads of drop offs near me, and my wife is a teacher, so I'm going to see if she can do this with her class.

It's a great idea, and most of the stuff kids will have unused - "Thanks auntie for ANOTHER pair of socks and colouring pencils." (bottom of the drawer never to see light again!) :rotfl:

These things could be put to good use, and I think the idea (and the posting) is excellent - thanks again for it!

minety-mum

We've done this since my elder son was 2 - he's coming up 17 now!
In the past we have done the boxes through school and/or Cubs, which can be good as a group activity.
We tend to use the toys from McD meals etc, as well as the stationery that is easy to get at this time of year.
There is always a shortage of teenage boxes, and apparently they get more girl boxes than boys, so teenage boy boxes are needed.

SUESMITH_2

we have also done this since our son was a baby (he's now 19!)

wouldn't be Christmas without packing up a couple of boxes for others. we try to do teenage boy ones cos like others have said they get the least of those.

i would love to know where our boxes have gone over the years.

QueenB.

I used to do these every year but due to other things and a lack of drop0 of points i haven't done any in a couple of years. I think i will make sure i do a couple this year, its a great way to teach kids about those less lucky than them and really adds to the christmas/seasonal feeling.

Bumpmakesfour

We were talking about this earlier at bathtime.It's something all three of my kidlets really want to do this year but don't know much about it so watching with interest
Looked at the link and we decided we'll do one each so 5 and will pick different sexes and ages.Will start picking stuff up now.tx OPxx