Shoe boxes for Christmas

suelld

eddiecat78

DD did this with her school when it first became a thing. In theory she sent a box to a girl in Rumania - we got a letter back from a boy. It then became apparent he was quite a well off boy as he started sending us parcels! This carried on back and forth for a couple of years until I intercepted a postcard from him who was now living in America and wanting her email address. I had visions of him turning up on our doorstep!

I think that’s rather nice to keep up a long corres after the initial parcel was sent. If he was well healed and sending you parcels what on earth is wrong with him turning up on your doorstep?? Surely nice to meet? Do you have something against Romanians?
I met a lovely Romanian working on the house next door in my 40s .. now I’m 80 next year we have been great friends ever since!

Wow! I don't think the poster was expressing anti-Romanian feelings at all. The issue was a random stranger turning up on the doorstep surely? Also if he was well heeled, then he didn't need the parcel and others, less well heeled, did.

Dizzyribs, that's awful, but as the Poster said upthread, find the organisation that suits you.

We filled shoeboxes years ago for Romanian children. I think this was organised by the Salvation Army. It was fun choosing little gifts.

Thank you for that info StoneofDestiny.

Thank you for that information.
I do a couple of boxes for Blythwood and although they are upfront about putting in some literature I’ve always been uneasy about it.
I have taken the attitude that my gifts may make a difference and they can throw the leaflet away.
I will look at this other option now. Too late for this year though. I delivered mine yesterday.

That was to StoneofDestiny

It would me bother me if I was into doing good works. The religious texts will probably be quickly thrown into the bin by the parents.

A relative of mine is obsessed with her shoe boxes. She never has time to speak to you or send a text as she is always so busy either making, collecting, or packing up.

I volunteer at a local homeless shelter and every Christmas I get to hand out the shoeboxes to homeless people. The joy on their faces when they open the boxes is incredible. Please don’t stop making things for these boxes and if you’re wary of church charities, homeless charities are always desperate and don’t have “ulterior” motives.

For many years I filled and then donated a shoebox to Samaritan’s purse. For the past few years since Covid I have switched to donating on line. You were able to choose the age group, if it was for a boy or girl, and select the contents from a list. This year although you can still take your own packed shoebox to a collection point, the online has changed. You can no longer choose what goes into the shoebox or who it is for or send a personal message. They just want you to donate £25. I don’t find this at all appealing and I will find another organisation to donate my money to.

Please all those who are pushing aside our concerns read up about it
It’s not just about a piece of paper that can be thrown away
It is extremely evangelical run by Billy Grahams son It is very anti gay and preaches so, they will not employ anyone gay they are anti Muslim and other religions and preach as such The children have to commit to going to the chapels or whatever before they can have a box Many of the boxes are stolen and never reach the children often the contents are changed
There are big concerns over the finances of this organisation

They often don’t receive them at Christmas they sometimes don’t get them at all

Please read up about it There are other better ways I did SP for years until I found out the truth It’s much much more than leaflets

BlueBelle

I stopped doing the shoe boxes some years ago when I read up a lot about the evangelical push placed on these children I preferred finding another way I used to do it every year but that put me off big time

Another one here, who stopped when I found out about the religion being included in them. When I ran a children's gymnastic club in East London, we collected these one year, hundreds of them, and were so disappointed when we learned about these tracts being added (many of our members were of the Jewish faith).

From the posts up thread we now have a list of 'worthy' destinations for our donations and craftwork.
It's Easter now, so plenty of time to get organised.
To be honest, with all of the so called 'Christian' nonsense at the White House just now, I am more inclined to head the warnings upthread

Thanks for the reminder.
As I said up thread I have always done Blythwood because a friend collected for them. She has now given up so I have just read the Rotary information. It differs from Blythwood- no sweets for example.
They meet at our local sports centre so I will contact one of the members.

I'm only surprised that anyone fails to grasp the meaning of Evangelical and what is their purpose and intent.