soapdragon Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 I am keen to spend some of half term with the boys filling a few shoe boxes with small Christmas gifts for children in other countries. Trouble is I can't find anything locally; does anyone know of a charity that would perhaps have a local collection point where we could deliver the filled and wrapped boxes? We did see some schemes last year but were too late and now I can't remember the charities details - I think they seemed to be very small ones. We are postcode OX44 - just south of Oxford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 The trussell trust does them in our area, so they might do them in yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 If you go to Operation Christmas Child you can find a location near you. However, this organisation has a very strong missionary ethos - I looked at this a couple of years ago, and decided that it wasn't something I felt comfortable with, but that's a personal thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKMARCH Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 Our school did them through Link Romania who are now Linktohope.co.uk they have lots of collection points ours was Aylesbury way but there will be a list on their website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Go to the Operation Christmas Child website. They have a page where you. Can locate drop of points. There seem to be 3 within reasonable striking distance of the location mentioned under your avatar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 I have the list of collection points for Link to Hope (was Link Romania). The only collection point for Oxfordshire is in Wantage, OX12. I am doing two shoeboxes for Link To Hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted October 11, 2013 Author Share Posted October 11, 2013 If you go to Operation Christmas Child you can find a location near you. However, this organisation has a very strong missionary ethos - I looked at this a couple of years ago, and decided that it wasn't something I felt comfortable with, but that's a personal thing. Yes, Olly, I found one group near us but it was similar and I felt uncomfortable with the strong bias so sadly discounted it. They also wanted a 'donation' of at least £2.50 per box for delivery! Thanks everyone; I will do some investigating this weekend and dig out some boxes. I can feel a trip to Poundland coming on - they are great for girly hair grips, colouring stuff etc! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Try the supermarket basics range of stuff and Wilkinsons basic stuff, it's amazing how much stuff you can get for £5 if you do a little research.......toothbrushes for less than 20p, toothpaste for about 25p and so on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddie Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Our primary school did one, (well, lots!!) and we were told no Piglets, as these were Pork, and could offend!! There was a huge long list of what not to send.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKMARCH Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 If you go to Operation Christmas Child you can find a location near you. However, this organisation has a very strong missionary ethos - I looked at this a couple of years ago, and decided that it wasn't something I felt comfortable with, but that's a personal thing. Yes, Olly, I found one group near us but it was similar and I felt uncomfortable with the strong bias so sadly discounted it. They also wanted a 'donation' of at least £2.50 per box for delivery! Thanks everyone; I will do some investigating this weekend and dig out some boxes. I can feel a trip to Poundland coming on - they are great for girly hair grips, colouring stuff etc! I don't think Link to Hope include religious material and they also do family or elderly box options and not just ones for children. You do also need to provide £2 per box to cover some of the transport costs. They have videos on their website which show previous deliveries so you can see where the boxes go which are shown in school assemblies so the children can get an idea of how other people can have different lives. I do feel guilty over the Christmas period when I think of what money I spend and how these people think of toothpaste, soap and razors as a luxury item. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 I do some every year through my Church. I have 4 all ready to send at the end of this month, and allsorts to go in the general collection, which will be boxed up next week ready to send. We think we have enough to send 38 children's boxes. My daughters do some too at their children's' school . As soon as the end of August arrives we put the shoebox notice up and get cracking. We get a lot of savings in the shops back to school offers . Good luck . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 We were told to try balls like tennis balls, pens, crayons and hats and scarves, socks etc. Had visions of some poor child somewhere hot in the world opening their box and thinking "what the heck" at the sight of woolly socks etc. (translated into their own lingo of course) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
