Christmas Shoebox Appeal 28 October 2018 at 5:43PM edited 28 October 2018 at 6:53PM in Special occasions & other celebrations 20 replies 3.5K views

Kim_kim

I was talking with my grandson about filling a shoebox with some Xmas fields for a little boy of a similar age and what might he like.

A quick google of Shoebox Appeal returns some not so nice info about if being run by a far right homophobic American.

Other sites saying it’s exaggerated.

Anyone know the truth?
If it’s unpleasant, do any other charities do it?

Spendless

Do you mean Operation christmas child?

https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/

When my kids were younger either their Primary school or the local Cubs group used to send a letter home asking if they'd fill a shoebox, but I have no more information that that.

Local media eg local rag and/or radio stations often have news about local appeals for underprivileged kids at Christmas. You buy something for either a boy or a girl in a particular age range and they have a drop off point where they're collected from. Might be slightly too early for you to have heard anything running where you are.

VintageHistorian

Link to Hope are a charity based in Worthing who do a shoebox appeal, they take them out to Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Moldova. They don't give out any religious leaflets or ask people to go to church in order to receive a shoebox. They do tend to do a lot of work through local churches in rural areas, but they also visit prisons in Bulgaria and refugees in Ukraine (people who have fled Crimea) and Romania and Bulgaria, so it's not just church-going families who get help.

However they have just closed registration for this year, and all shoeboxes need to be with an area collector by next Monday. So you're probably a bit late for it this year.

Have you considered doing a reverse advent calendar for your local food bank? At this time of year a lot of them try to include a few festive treats to give out to their clients, such as small yule logs, Christmas puddings etc. You could take your grandson to the supermarket to get some bits and pieces, and then either put them in the collection basket in the supermarket or drive over to your local foodbank and donate direct.

Well_Preserved

I second the food bank idea. Also if your grandson wants to gift a child of a similar age to himself, which is a lovely idea, you may find that a food bank will accept gifts for children, to be given out with Christmas food parcels - I know ours does,

Prinzessilein

If it is Operation Christmas CHild - we have been doing boxes for over 10 years.

Yes, it is a Christian run charity...there have been some negative comments, mostly by groups who have their own agenda...Samaritans Purse, who run Operation Christmas Child have given comprehensive answers against the criticism.

You just have to look at widely available videos to know that the boxes are VERY welcome when they are given to children.

(and I AM a Christian...but a liberal Christian who is decidedly non-right wing!...I researched the group thoroughly when I heard the negative comments some years ago!)

Kim_kim

Prinzessilein wrote: »

If it is Operation Christmas CHild - we have been doing boxes for over 10 years.

Yes, it is a Christian run charity...there have been some negative comments, mostly by groups who have their own agenda...Samaritans Purse, who run Operation Christmas Child have given comprehensive answers against the criticism.

You just have to look at widely available videos to know that the boxes are VERY welcome when they are given to children.

(and I AM a Christian...but a liberal Christian who is decidedly non-right wing!...I researched the group thoroughly when I heard the negative comments some years ago!)

Thank you for your reassurance, we do want to do it for a child from a poorer country.

Owain_Moneysaver

May not be completely up to date, but

https://humanism.org.uk/humanism/humanism-today/humanists-doing/good-causes-and-charities/samaritans-purse/

What is up to date is their statement of faith which opposes same-sex marriage
https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/statement-of-faith/

And their discriminatory employment practices which require affirmation and adherence to that statement of faith and requires "A current pastor’s reference"
https://careers.samaritanspurse.org/

which also makes it clear that religious proselytising is integral to the shoebox program:

Operation Christmas Child Children in more than 150 countries are experiencing God's love through the power of shoebox gifts. Through The Greatest Journey, our follow-up program for shoebox recipients, children learn what it means to faithfully follow Jesus Christ

happyandcontented

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

May not be completely up to date, but

https://humanism.org.uk/humanism/humanism-today/humanists-doing/good-causes-and-charities/samaritans-purse/

What is up to date is their statement of faith which opposes same-sex marriage
https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/statement-of-faith/

And their discriminatory employment practices which require affirmation and adherence to that statement of faith and requires "A current pastor’s reference"
https://careers.samaritanspurse.org/

which also makes it clear that religious proselytising is integral to the shoebox program:

When allied to religion and schools that is the norm and so not subject to discrimination laws. It is deemed necessary to preserve the religious identity of the school, either C of E or RC. I am not sure if this organisation is covered by the same exemption but it may be.

jackomdj

Our local women's refuge has just posted some local drop off points. I am going to organise a reverse advent at work, which hopefully people will donate to for them.

Owain_Moneysaver

happyandcontented wrote: »

When allied to religion and schools that is the norm and so not subject to discrimination laws. It is deemed necessary to preserve the religious identity of the school, either C of E or RC. I am not sure if this organisation is covered by the same exemption but it may be.

It's not, as it's not a school.

Anyway,

In Voluntary Controlled and Foundation schools with a religious character up to one fifth of their teaching staff can be reserved teachers. These are teachers who are chosen for their competence to provide RE in accordance with the school's religious ethos.

Voluntary Aided and Faith Academies and Free Schools can use a religious test in appointing, remunerating and promoting all teachers (and in appointing other staff if an occupational requirement is demonstrated). Academies and Free Schools with no registered religious character (but may have a faith ethos) can use a religious test in appointing, remunerating and promoting some staff if a genuine occupational requirement is demonstrated.

There is no religious exemption for packing boxes in a warehouse, but Samaritans Purse link to that discriminatory policy in their recruitment advertising on their UK Facebook page.

Kim_kim

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

May not be completely up to date, but

https://humanism.org.uk/humanism/humanism-today/humanists-doing/good-causes-and-charities/samaritans-purse/

What is up to date is their statement of faith which opposes same-sex marriage
https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/statement-of-faith/

And their discriminatory employment practices which require affirmation and adherence to that statement of faith and requires "A current pastor’s reference"
https://careers.samaritanspurse.org/

which also makes it clear that religious proselytising is integral to the shoebox program:

It’s such a lovely idea, it’s a shame non religious charities haven’t picked it up.