Santas challenge 2017

Katiehound

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Sorry guys,
Lurking on the post and see you all mentioning boxes - is this like operation christmas child? Can someone explain please?

Welcome Sammy Kaye!
Lurkers always invited 'in!'

Yes, but these boxes are going to either families or OAPs in Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova & Ukraine. To anyone identified as in need of whatever creed, colour, or religion.
The charity has been working in Romania ever since the horrors of the orphanages under Caucescau (can't spell his name!)

There are collection points across most of country, otherwise near Worthing
Have a look at last year's photo diary- makes me cry- these folk have so little and a shoe box is such a magical (and useful)treat.

Home page here: https://linktohope.co.uk/
Delivery diary 2018 (brief explanation) https://linktohope.co.uk/shoebox-delivery-diary-2018
Photos 2018 here: https://linktohope.co.uk/shoebox-appeal-2019/shoebox-photos-2018

There are links on the home page for registration etc

Katiehound

Forgot to say that if you are crafty you can make knee blankets or knit teddies which are used as 'packaging' and then distributed. Same delivery places as before.

sammy_kaye18

Katiehound wrote: »

Welcome Sammy Kaye!
Lurkers always invited 'in!'

Yes, but these boxes are going to either families or OAPs in Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova & Ukraine. To anyone identified as in need of whatever creed, colour, or religion.
The charity has been working in Romania ever since the horrors of the orphanages under Caucescau (can't spell his name!)

There are collection points across most of country, otherwise near Worthing
Have a look at last year's photo diary- makes me cry- these folk have so little and a shoe box is such a magical (and useful)treat.

Home page here: https://linktohope.co.uk/
Delivery diary 2018 (brief explanation) https://linktohope.co.uk/shoebox-delivery-diary-2018
Photos 2018 here: https://linktohope.co.uk/shoebox-appeal-2019/shoebox-photos-2018

There are links on the home page for registration etc

Thank Katie Hound.
I have registered as my children and I like to charitable things especially at christmas.
The only thing I have to ask is - I saw on the page you are to include the 6 basics but then you can have another 5 items but I couldnt see a list of what is allowed and what isnt (obviously medication, food etc Im guessing is a no no)
Do you by chance have a copy of the lists? Red and purple I think they said they were.

I have checked as well and we have a local collection point in our town too :-)

Katiehound

Food, perfume, medicines, seeds,written material (ie books) are not allowed.

You need to register online and then you will be sent the forms or I assume you can download.They ask how many you would like. One of the reasons is that they want to know how many boxes are coming so they can get sufficient storage in the lorries.

You are not restricted to 11 items- it's more what you can squeeze in! That's why I don't put in a woolly scarf as it takes far too much room

It rather depends which box(es) you are doing
OAP has things like: mug, cutlery, glasses (or magnifying glass) sensory item, socks/tights, wind up torch, pens paper, nail clippers

Family box has things like pencils & pens, colouring book, solar powered calculator,thin scarf, small toys, a tool/steel measure.

You can also add extra things, lipstick, lipsalve, necklace/bracelet, calico shopping bag, sewing kit, plasters, paint box, hair bobbles etc,- as long as you list them on the form which is taped to the lid.

I tend to buy from a mix of sources: supermarket own brand, cheapie shops, carboots & charity shops- it's a bit of a challenge

Pleased to hear you are joining, it's a very worthwhile cause. When the depots are open you can watch daily photos on Facebook and then follow the deliveries of one lorry.

Happy_Kitties

Welcome Sammy Kaye

I've really loved doing my shoeboxes this year and I cram in extras like Katiehound said Into my boxes.

Things don't have to be expensive, for example ive used Molly's bars of chocolate from Tesc@, only 30p for a big bar (and very nice-had to do a taste test) but when u see where the boxes go to on the link to hope site it makes it so worthwhile.

I didn't really get into the boxes well last year (it was my first year of doing them) but once you find ur best way to do them u start to fly and manage to cram the impossible into them.

The six main items from the blue secton are,

*gloves/scarf or hat (new or knitted)
*sweets/chocolate (BB June 2020 EU origin)
*soap and flannel
*toothbrush/toothpaste
*candles & holders
*small games (travel size draughts/dominoes/playing cards)

Then add at least a further 5 items from the red box for a family shoebox or from the purple box to make a unisex elderly shoebox

With families (which is the red box)

*colouring pads (A5) - i've struggled to get A5 but have put several A6 books in my boxes
*crayons/pencils (with rubber and sharpener)
*small toys (yo-yo, skipping rope, toy cars)
*soft toy/teddy (with CE label)
* tape measure/DIY tool
* head scarf (lightweight)
* shampoo (max 300ml)
* solar powered calculator
* safety razors
* other gifts (there is a space on the form to list. I tend to put in lip salve, sewing kits, an eco friendly foldable shopping bag, hair bands, plasters, pencil case, slippers-pinched the idea from Chanie! (have picked up fluffy children's ones very cheap in sales which are very useful for packing things in) compact hair brush with mirror depending on the stocks of goodies I have )

Will be back after to list the purple elderly (unisex) box

Honesty you will get sorted much from doing a box Sammy Kaye
Katiehound got me and Chanie into doing the boxes and we all like to do extras for charity at christmas including the shoeboxes
We're a lovely positive thread

Katiehound

I have managed to sort out the shoebox stash- finally!
(I still have 2 big bags to store for next year!- e.g when Wilco's sold off their wooden toy taxis & buses @ 25pence I bought loads!)
My friend and I are going to have to knit 7 pairs of mitts over a long w/e!

Tomorrow the plan is to go to Mr T to buy: 8 toothpastes, 4 t brushes, 8 disposable razor packs & 8 bars of chocolate!

When I have sewn my 4 shopping bags (colourful thick curtaining) and sorted the 4 sewing kits I'll be able to pack the OAP boxes (oh no, lacking the mitts/gloves- curses).
My friend has bought me 4 tools from £land for family boxes..
Now it looks like I am short of cheapie wrapping paper- I slipped up there!

At a carboot sale today got a box of 1/2 length lead pencils- when full it had 2 x gross! I guess there must be 230or more? - for £1.
Also new dominoes, dice set, connect 4 (travel size)- altogether for £1
3 mini handcreams- free
hair bobbles, mini clips in mini bags - 10 pence each
I reckon I am just about sorted. Hurrah:T

Tomorrow plan to deliver 4 or 5 doggy duvets
Fingers crossed dishwasher will be mended.............finally??

Katiehound

Today in Mr T:
5 disposable razors- 30pence
basic toothpaste- -50 pence
pack of 2 x basic toothbrushes- 24 pence

Sadly cheapie shampoo bottles too large -500ml rather than 350ml. Bought 300ml shampoo in Aldi

chanie

Katiehound wrote: »

Today in Mr T:
5 disposable razors- 30pence
basic toothpaste- -50 pence
pack of 2 x basic toothbrushes- 24 pence

Sadly cheapie shampoo bottles too large -500ml rather than 350ml. Bought 300ml shampoo in Aldi

Thanks for the tip. Will definitely check out those items from mr T.

Katiehound

Glad I haven't been holding breath over dishwasher.... still broken. Needs new thermostat, man says he will fix for free as he did not diagnose correctly..... but... there's no rush!!

Started knitting mitts pair 1. About 1" of rib so far whilst waiuting for car to be fixed.

Yesterday I had my birthday treatto myself (it's in the school holidays.) Went to feed tigers at a local wildlife park. They have the largest collection of tigers in UK (11)- all from rescue. Stunning cats, obviously happy because they are very laid back. Probably not worth the cost but it was very memorable and I have a couple of stunning photos.
I was also standing just inches from a big cat ( other side of mesh, naturally!!)

chanie

katie your birthday treat sounds like fun, but also scary.

Xmas prep has been replaced with a few other priorities. Firstly, we had DDs birthday party this weekend, even though her birthday is over the summer holidays. She has loads of gift bags, which I have diverted to my gift wrapping stash.

I found a couple more items for my link boxes. Speaking of which, I popped into Sports Direct to see if they had any spare boxes and I was told that most people take their boxes with them, as they can only accept returns on footwear in boxes. This means I will be ‘forced’ to buy more shoes to get the boxes!

It’s MILs birthday coming up and I asked OH to ask her what she wanted as she is difficult to buy for. We have settled on a M & S voucher, which makes it so much easier. I did pick up a scarf for her in the Sainsburys sale, so she will at least have something to open on the day.