Part 0800.0005

[Dizzy-Deb]

Just spotted this in my local paper today and wondered if anyone else has done something similar ?

 

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2010/09/16/fill-a-box-for-operation-christmas-child/

 

I have seen in the past one done for the soldiers but not children. xx

[Scramble]

I've been doing this for as long as I can remember

I do it through school. In primary school and high school there has always been one teacher who gave out the forms and most people made a box up. You choose the gender and the age bracket you wish to buy for and then just fill it up accordingly. It was amazing watching them all stack up in the classrooms

[sari]

We do this every year at my school. Often we send them to a group of children we host yearly , from Mogilev in Belarus. We host them through a charity called Friends of Cher"Ooops, word censored!"yl's Children, as their life expectancy is in the 30's. For every *month* they spend in the UK, they get an extra couple of years life expectancy. We are a small school but most families send at least one shoebox. Samaritan's Purse do it too. I like to imagine the look on the child's face as they open their gift . I'm told that some children save the gift wrap, and all the bits and bobs, even when used/broken etc...for years afterwards.

 

sari x x

Edited September 25, 2010 by Guest

[Couperwife]

my next door neighbour organises these for her church

 

I have done 7 shoe boxes this year and given her another 8 boxes to fill

 

its a real feel good factor

 

cathy

x

[Purplemaniacs]

We host them through a charity called Friends of Cher"Ooops, word censored!"yl's Children, as their life expectancy is in the 30's. For every *month* they spend in the UK, they get an extra couple of years life expectancy.

sari x x

 

We have put on have a go archery sessions for groups of Cher"Ooops, word censored!"yl Children who have stayed in Rutland. It was great fun, they had so much fun, teaching them to shoot arrows when no one spoke the same language was interesting but the joy on their faces when they hit the target was worth it.

 

Our school used to do the shoeboxes, now I give mine to a lady from the village church who takes them to a central point.

 

Chrissie

[sari]

We were going to host a child, but my Husband thought he would find it too upsetting to let them go back. friends of ours hosted a child for 5 years, and were going through the process of adopting her, but a half brother came out of the woodwork, and objected. They still have her back to stay every 18 months or so.

[Mollie333]

We do that every Christmas for children in Africa. Giving them Pencils, note pads, small toys, inflatable balls and packs of boiled sweets with a long expiry date.

[Olly]

Having clicked through to the Samaritan's Purse website which organises these, there is a very strong missionary ideal behind this. I still think it's a lovely idea, but I would rather not have a particular religious focus for my giving. That's just a personal view - I'm sure these boxes bring pleasure to lots of children.

[sari]

Having clicked through to the Samaritan's Purse website which organises these, there is a very strong missionary ideal behind this. I still think it's a lovely idea, but I would rather not have a particular religious focus for my giving. That's just a personal view - I'm sure these boxes bring pleasure to lots of children.

 

I see your point, I'm a Pagan and my OH and one of my children is a Buddhist -( makes filling in those council diversity forms an absolute blast- trying to fit in race, religion etc...hilarious!) but I work in a C of E Primary school. and had tea with the Bishop last week.....talk about fancy dress and panto. I try to ignore the religious aspect of the appeal, and feel like that ,for me, it doesn't matter , although I can see how if you are an atheist/agnostic, it might grate. I think there are secular forms of these shoebox appeals. Although in the guidance we are given, it states no religious or political material or printed words may be included, as they go to communist/former communist countries, so they would be turned away at customs. And they do turn some away, we got told this last year......smack on hand.

[Mollie333]

We do it in school, i didn't read the article, didn't have enough time.