Operation Christmas Child - Please help.

My daughter had us fill one (It's amazing how much you can spend on the content of a shoebox) & she took it to school yesterday believing she was helping to change the world, so it was all worth it!

How do you go about it? Where do you get the info on what you can and can't put in and where do you take the box once full?

This is a really important charity and lots of schools get involved every year.

It should be posted again earlier in the day so that more people can see it.

Moderators, can this be posted again please? Advice?

Found this on the site...
"What to Pack- Gift ideas


All items should be new. Please include items from each category. Remember to make your box both FUN and EDUCATIONAL!

yesTOYS - something to love
Bear, soft toy, tennis ball, fi nger puppet, jigsaw, yo-yo, building blocks, small musical instrument, (for boys – trucks and cars, for girls – doll, clip-on earrings, make-up or hair accessories) etc.

yesEDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES – something to do
Felt pens, pens, pencils, pencil sharpener, rubber, colouring book,notepad, picture/puzzle book, chalk, pencil case, stickers etc.

yes HYGIENE ITEMS – something to use
Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, comb, hair clips, bar of wrapped soap, flannel etc.

yes OTHER ITEMS – something to eat or wear
Sweets (sell-by date to be at least March of following year), gloves, scarf. sunglasses, cap, hat, bangles, necklaces etc.





no DO NOT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:


no FOOD Chocolate, crisps, biscuits, tinned food or cakes (or any other food)

no MEDICINE Medicines or vitamins of any kind

no WAR RELATED ITEMS toy guns, soldiers or knives

no CLOTHING (other than listed above)

no FRAGILE ITEMS Glass containers; mirrors

no LIQUIDS of any kind including blow bubbles, shampoo, bubble bath, toiletry sets or aerosols

no DANGEROUS ITEMS Marbles or sharp objects – scissors or razors

no NOVELS

no ANYTHING OF A POLITICAL OR RACIAL NATURE

HERE’S THE SMALL PRINT: Due to import regulations, all gifts should be new and comply with the conditions listed above. Please make sure your gifts are age appropriate and that you do not send any items in a shoe box (intended for a small child), which might be swallowed or mistaken for sweets.
Should you inadvertently include any item that is not suitable or might be regarded as dangerous for the intended child, Samaritan’s Purse reserves the right to remove that item and use it for the benefit of the charity. Occasionally we have to change the contents to meet specific country requirements.

Copyright 2003 © Samaritan’s Purse International. All rights reserved."

We sent crayons ,toothbrushes,sunglasses,colouring books & many small toy's. Dont forget as my daughter reminded me to enclose a name & photo! Although I doubt she will ever hear from the person that receives it, I don't think she will be upset, she thinks that she has helped in some small way which is great as far as I am concerned!

I have bought enough stuff to fill 3 shoeboxes, but only have 1 at the moment! So if anyone has any spare shoeboxes....

Kelly_o, your local collection centre can normally take all your spare bits. I have a clear out amongst the childrens toys & try to take a bag down each year. They apparently especially love MacDonalds toys . My local collection point even sells empty pre-wrapped shoe boxes - it saves having to find boxes, try to wrap it & find a big elastic band plus it's extra funds for them. Also this year our local school is also taking spare bits & will make up extra boxes that way, so maybe give you local primary a call.

Plus I seem to remember if you make your donation online then just put the ref on the slip in the box you can also giftaid it if you pay tax. It's a really good cause

Off to Wlikinsons again to stock up on soap, face cloths, toothpaste, pencils, notepads ... .

I will check where my local drop off point is this year

I got most of the stuff from wilkinson, all the sort of stuff you said, plus got a little teddy, plastic cup, tennis ball etc. Just bought 3 lots of everything, we used to give little toys and stuff but now that we have no kids in the house its pretty much just buy everything

Checked with my local drop off point, and they said that they dont take anything if its not in a shoebox, and wont have any spare shoeboxes

Apparently if you go into a shoe shop like Clarkes they are quite willing to give you an empty shoe box!

Thanks, asked in my local small shoe shop and she just said "Sure", disappeared for less than a minute and come back with 3 shoeboxes (didnt even say thats how many I needed!). Must be used to people asking and have sorted some out ready

Really pleased I got hold of some, just need to get them wrapped now.

I get together with friends and family and we fill lots of boxes. I go to poundland and other £1 shops i also buy after christmas in the sales and put the stuff in the loft. very good charity to support. Why not suggest in work that you all try and bring in a box or make one per team.

My mum visited Romania with another charity and when in a local house she saw the covered shoebox being used by the family for storing things so nothing gets wasted and the boxes make it through to those who need them.