Well, it's that time of year again ...
Christmas is getting closer by the day and this weekend in our house it was time to fill a box ...
not just any old box but a shoebox!
First, we had to find some empty shoeboxes ... this one was lurking under our lovely young man's bed
Luckily Mr B bought new shoes on Saturday.
Next, fill the boxes with lovely treats ... for a girl
.... or for a boy
Small toys, pens and paper, hair slides, mittens, some sweets (but not chocolate), toothpaste, toothbrush and soap.... and above all a cuddly toy. I like to put in something like a ball or a skipping rope, so they can be shared with a friend.
It's nice to pop in a Christmas card or even a photograph too.
Finally, the boxes look best if they are gift wrapped (but leave the lid open), but I didn't have any wrapping paper last night.
The boxes are sent overseas by Operation Christmas Child so that children in stricken circumstances are able to have a Christmas present.
This wonderful project has been organised by the Samaritan's Purse charity for the past 20 years. The original parcels were sent to the children languishing in Romanian orphanages, but now they're also given to children in hospitals, orphanages, in homeless shelters, and impoverished neighbourhoods all over the world.
A Christmas gift for children who have never had anything in their lives!
When my children were in primary school we did this every year .. and now our school is on board too!
I think it's very important for our children to think of others less fortunate than themselves in the lead up to Christmas ...and this is a great way to get them involved.
In our school, we encourage the children to bring in just one or two items if they can't manage to fill a whole box, and as a staff we assemble as many as we can, after trips to the local shoeshops begging for the all important empty shoebox donations.
Mr B. is launching this years appeal in school today and will be showing the very moving video in assembly
On Saturday night he decided he needed a filled box to show the children what can go inside.
aaahhhh .... very short notice!!!!
So, a quick trip to Chester was needed yesterday to search out little treats.
If you would like to join in, take a look at the website using my link, to find all the details and your nearest collection depot.
It's a great thing to do for less-fortunate children isn't it? We've been doing it for a few years now. I love picking out all the little, fun things to go inside the box. I'll be filling our box soon. I want Violet to grow up knowing that not all children are as lucky as she is and that Xmas is a time for giving and being with your family, and not about how many presents you get and how much money your parent's have spent.
ReplyDeleteI'll post about mine too, when I get around to it - the more people who know about this great charity the better.
Jill x
fantastic to see more boxes being filled. i have all the stuff for mine but still need boxes! just glad i know someone who likes wrapping the shoe boxes as i'm rubbish at it!
ReplyDeleteI also work in an elementary school. We have a huge coat drive. When we have filled boxes with gently worn coats, the coats are sent to the cleaners who cleans them free of charge. As staff we can also choose a family that is having a hard time making ends meet and buy toys for the kids for Christmas. It is such a good lesson for children as well as adults. Your idea is wonderful I will be looking into that. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWe do this too - I sob a bit as I put the boxes together though - hope you picked your free mascara up in Chester. Xxxxx
ReplyDeleteIt is a wonderful idea as it benefits all the children both givers and recipients. I have a strong memory of when I was a child - in Leicester before we moved to the country - of having to chose a toy I didn't play with anymore and my Mum would take me into the city where Santa would pass buy on a 'sleigh' and we children had to put our toys on it for other children who wouldn't have any new toys that Christmas! I'm off to look at the website:)
ReplyDeleteour school also fill shoe boxes for operation christmas child every year and we have fun collecting for them. a very worth while charity.
ReplyDeletelove
Lyn
xxx
I did this last year for the first time. I got my son (11 at the time) to help me put a box together for a boy the same age as himself. I hope that it made a young boy happy, even if momentarily. x
ReplyDeleteit's such a great charity and a great lesson for our children to learn.In this country children have so much,too much and yet others have so little.I have two empty shoe boxes and this has spurred me on to get filling them and finding my nearest collection point.Thanks for reminding me Kathy.
ReplyDeleteOh - We filled these for years & years - school/ cubs / brownies/ guides/ scouts - gave me as much pleasure as filling my own childrens' stockings.
ReplyDeleteThese days, I'm fully involved with local charities but happy to see the boxes being filled or such a worthty cause.
We try and do this each year too since it was introduced to us when T was at Infant school. I'm halfway through mine. Must get a wriggle on with it.
ReplyDeleteLisa x