Not dropping Santa down the chimney!: 2025 Santa, Shoebox & Life Chit,Chat,Chunter! ALL welcome....

Happy_Kitties

I think that’s a brilliant idea Chanie, at least you know the items will get used and you know what she likes.

Do u mind me asking how old your niece is? I might pinch that idea for cousin’s DD.

I’ve managed to pick up quite a few bargains despite vowing I wouldn’t this year. I’ve picked up quite a few Lush sets and  candles in the sale, some have already gone off to charity, the candles will be fab presents for family I only get a token present for that are due to age out.
The list goes down by one this year.

I’ve got DD birthday next month. I’ve got lots of things that build up her make up things. I always find it hard after Christmas for ideas but she has given me a couple of pointers aswell. 
i must be storing at least 20 hot water bottles, most of these will go to the shoebox hub for local projects and I’m trying to build up a toiletry stash as I used quite a few bits in my bags of Joy last year. Boots messed up my sale order I did on Christmas Eve, I did eventually get it sorted but only yesterday. 
Im itching to do a couple of shoeboxes and it’s only January. I think it’s because I have items ready, but no shoeboxes. I find it quite relaxing doing a shoebox if I’m in the mood
I hope everyone is doing okay….i don’t think Katiehound is off dancing yet on one of her cruises!

chanie

my niece is 8, so a great age for a hamper.  One of the things i like about doing hampers is that i can pick up bits and pieces little and often- like my children’s xmas stockings.

@HappyKitty i find it fun doing the boxes, but i struggle with getting the boxes to my area rep through my lack of organisation and then it feels stressful.  That’s why i have stopped, but maybe i’ll get my mojo back at some point.

For now, i’m focussing on another project.  One of the primary schools i work with is in a deprived area with many poor students.  i have already donated a load of small toys for fundraising.  my latest project is making some small filled jars.  i buy yummy yoghurts that come in glass jars so im saving thr jars and am going to fill them up with small toys, sweets etc for fundraising.  i think this will be a fun project for me.

im also collecting items for my children’s school xmas hamper donation.  As we approached last Xmas, i saved up the free items i got from the Lidl app and that went towards the donation.   This year, im starting early and have already got a free deodorant from Lidl as my first donation. i have been put off putting items in the Lidl donation point in store as on more than one occasion, ive seen customers taking items from the boxes.

Happy_Kitties

I think a hamper for cousins DD would be brilliant @Chanie, a fab idea thank you.

i have been lucky in that I pass my shoebox rep most weeks and is a regional hub. It adds about 20 min onto the journey but we have a set up where she will come out to the car, grab everything and then I’m off again so before Christmas it was very easy for me but before that, what a nightmare.
With the hub even when I had done a last minute box but didn’t have an official leaflet for it, I just lightly stuck the list of contents and the rep did the official one for me and finished it off. 
I think @Katiehound is going to have the issue of even trying to get the shoeboxes to a collection point, it is going to be a nightmare for them this year, 

i think what you are doing is great working with the school in a deprived area and the hamper donation and the items you are collecting for the school Christmas hamper…..everyone loves a Christmas hamper, you cannot beat it and winning one is the dream. They always go down so well. 
I’ve found the same with donation points. The community worked hard to save the local animal sanctuary from closing. They have collection points where I shop and in the next town. The collection point where I live, the staff admitted that they couldn’t keep an eye of it, people were taking things and or moving items from the animal sanctuary collection point into the food bank and you find yourself having to move things back. Nothing against foodbanks but unfortunately where I live they are so abused by people that don’t need that the genuine don’t get. I live in a small community where everyone knows everybody and everything. When I mentioned it to the foodbank lady her only response was they are highly abused everywhere so I removed myself from the discussion. 

But in the next town the collection point is in a superstore, it is always full as people would rather drop off at that store as security is much tighter and things monitored better. In my own store staff have even said the best time to drop off so there is less chance of things being moved or taken. Such a shame that it happens, I fully understand why you don’t put in the collection point.
i think that is why I like supporting the shoebox hub with their local projects as their due diligence is high, the items really do go to those in need.