Santas challenge 2017

Happy_Kitties

Nope couldn't do 8. Much admiration Katiehound on this.
I also enjoy the family boxes more tbh and I didn't put scarves in last year because of room.

I've got their leaflets (took a while to come thru after signing up) and they are saying on sweets/chocolate BB June 2020 EU origin. If u have a tesc@ nearby they have a good size nice Molly's chocolate bar for 30p with a decent BB date.

Managed to get pencil and rubber sets reduced to 20p in the W@rks so bought several sets and looking at the stash I have from last year that I had left over, they are items more geared up for the family boxes.
If I can get a box this week I probably have enough ready to do another family box. I do like doing them, especially when I read online of where the shoeboxes went last year and the awful circumstances people are living in.feel like I'm doing a small piece of good

Katiehound

I'm doing 4 of each. Last year I got some really thin scarves which folded to nowt. Sometime last year (after box packing) I got some plain viscose scarves in Poundland reduced to 50pence- one came in very handy in India!!
Haven't had a chance to survey the 'need to buy' yet- too busy with dishwasher / machine/ doggy duvets,/ shredding docs etc. I know that I already have a lot of what's needed.

Yes, everytimeI look at the photos it makes me cry- what abject poverty and that's why I do it. It's the elderly I feel really sorry for as often they are left with no friends, or even with the grandchildren to care for. I think they asked for shopping bags last year so I made them out of brightly coloured curtaining- made a change from duvets!!
I also make a small SO per month which goes into their other projects.

chanie

Katie it is awfully sad.

I’m also doing a donation to a Christmas toy appeal, as I would like to do something to help local people too. I have a big bag of items put aside which I am adding to. I wanted to do it last year, but left it too late.

Katiehound

Two or three times a year I buy extra shower gel etc or cleaning products and take them to the community larder as they always want those if someone has been 'given' a house- so that's my local 'donation.' Plus I do shop & donate to local charity shops.
When I went to pay for new washer found a new charity shop in town! Makes 10 in all.........

Happy_Kitties

Just lost 2 posts arggghhh, just not playing ball so I'm going to see if I can do a quick post.

Completed second shoebox tonight, elderly this time, made good use of my mum's knitted items.

Still have quite a bit left so family shoebox next.
Community larder sounds interesting, we have nothing like this here

Katiehound

The community larder is run by the local churches group- like a food bank. They do accept food but also want toiletries & household cleaning products- so that's what I take them.
The Sally Army also hand out goodies and I think give free lunches.

Happy_Kitties

We have an organisation here that supports young people with life skills, sorting out courses/jobs and then finally helping to get them into their own accommodation. They never ask for items but something like a community larder would be brilliant to support them.

Tried to post aswell last night that my car has to go in for a service next week and they have offered to drop me into the nearby town. Where I live we don't have many shops so really going to make use of the opportunity to get more shoeboxes, have a nosy in the pound and charity shops.

Also donate to the local animal shelter where we always get our cats from. They have a collection point in tesc@s, always pop something in when we go shopping and pop more in at Christmas.

Out of the blue I decided to book Poland pre Christmas as abit of a target to aim for health wise. If things don'the go to plan and I can't go, DD is going to take her BF but I am really hoping to go and have bought a book on Poland to take into hospital with me.

Father's day presents posted today, 21st birthday presents to sort out next.

Katiehound

Don't know if you are near an Aldi but they have 'Family soap'- 4 large bars for 59 pence. In the past I have put shower gel in the boxes but they are asking you not to- problem of bottle disposal, so I'll use a large soap instead and buy shampoo.
I also noted that Aldi's sweets are dated Feb?2020 whilst bars of chocolate Nov 2020. Funny, I would have though ti would be other way round!

Bought £5 of shower gel/ washing up liquid (yes I know strange combo!) and wash up sponges and delivered to 'larder.'

chanie

Katie thanks for the Aldi soap tip. I will definitely pick some up when I pop in.

chanie

I popped into Aldi today and bought the soap.

I also started putting my boxes together, so I could see how they were filling up. I haven’t spent much money on my boxes yet as many of the items I have collected has been items from around my home (McDonald’s happy meal toys, note pads, hotel slippers etc).