Christmas Shoeboxes

[Eve]

I'm putting together some Christmas showboxes for children in Romania and Mozambique.

Pretty much ok for Romania as did some youth work there but does anyone have any suggestions as to small or easily foldable things (to pack more in) I can put in to give me some wider ideas?

I'm planning on doing quite a few different once for boys and girls and different ages.

Thanks :) xxx

[B00]

I'm sorry for being dim- but do you mean toys?

[-Zorro-]

xbox

[lulu85]

use your imagination! i dont mean that in a nasty way at all, kids from third world countries really appriciate anything they get, they are not fussy at all, and things that kids over here dont tend to appriciate so much due to having a lot more technology etc. are highly amusing and fun to the kids over there.

try things like trumping putty (its a pot of putty n u put ur finger in and it makes a trump noise!), little cuddly toys, maybe a cute little t-shirt (george at asda aren't expensive), some chocolate coins, things like that, novelty things!!!

hope ive helped a little! xxx

[cruella]

Have you included little fancy hair bands, slides etc for the girls. Combs for the boys. Also all the type of little toiletries you can buy in local outlets, samplers of shampoo soaps etc.
Hope the children enjoy their gifts. unexpensive watches, toothpaste lightweight PJ's
Good Luck

[B00]

Oh well if it is toys.....

I know Tesco (and i'm sure other supermarkets do the same) have a whole aisle with things for party bags for parties, brillint little things like farty putty, mini kites, marbles etc. All of them are really cheap and the beauty of them is that they are small- could fit loads in a shoe box.

[Eve]

Ooh, hair things for the girls is a great idea. Like the toiletries idea too.

Anything which doesn't need to be plugged in, batteries or is dependant on things they won't be able to get.

Gonna get loads of colouring pens and such too and games things and gonna go through Primark and George and such for clothing bits and pieces.

Got the day off tomorrow so gonna make the most of the shops being quiet.

[cruella]

Jenna1978
All children love balloons
Put a pack in every box. they will have great fun
Happy shopping tomorrow

[Eve]

That's a great idea WM, maps facinated me too! A friend of mine has a whole room wallpapered in actual maps, another friend as his ceilings papered in newspapers and another in musical scores, loks amazing.

Will get loads of kiddies sweets too, want to give them some special treats for the day as well as other longer term things.

[Eve]

Ooooh, balloons, I love it :)

[Hellion]

I do these too Jenna - I like the fact that my little boy can really get to grips with the idea of giving something to a child who has nothing.

Primark is a really good place to look if you are near one, we usually buy cheap socks, gloves beanie hats, even T Shirts (it gets cold at night in Africa too. Also bags, Primark often do sort of rucksack style PE bags. Toothpaste toothbrush, soap, pens and pads of paper. A game or toy of some sort - this year tescos have mini chess/draughts sets. A plastic mug , hotwheels cars, hair slides. I usually fill the gaps with balloons and mini packs of Haribo's.

[Clanad]

We support a young missionary family in Ghana, and for the last several years have sent and gotten together others to send shoeboxes for the children. They have reported that the most used and cherished item in the shoe boxes were small, plastic, inexpensive flashlights... think ya'll call the torches, no? One other thing that's well received are the small, hotel sized bars of soap... Thanks for doing this, by the way!

[Eve]

Apparantly so, scarfs and gloves and such go down well as it can get really cold at nights eg with the lack of shelter.

Flashlights are definitely in then. Trying to think where to get small bars of soap, maybe the minis section in Superdrug/Boots. May even see if a hotel will give me some. Should have grabbed some when i was in a hotel last weekend ;)

A Salami WM???

[Eve]

Me too WM :)

[morbidstorm]

Hiya,

don't suppose you could give me the address to send these boxes to could you? It's a great idea, and I have lots and lots of things which my boys are sick of the I would love to send to someone who would get use of it...

Also, is there a place that you buy the shoe-boxes from - I couldn't afford to buy loads of pairs of shoes to get them!!

thanks.x

[Eve]

Hey morbidstorm, thank you :)

I'll ask for you, a friend at work is collecting ours.

Or try Operation Christmas Child...

http://www.samaritanspurse.uk.com/occ/what-is. asp

If all else fails msn me and you can send it through to me and I'll give it in with mine.

I've got a few spare spare showboxes but gonna ask in some shoeshops for spare ones.

[Eve]

Ahh, just checked the site and no...

No chocolate due to customs regulations in some receiving countries. Sweets ok.

Other edible items (e.g. crisps, biscuits, tinned food or cake)

War related items (e.g. toy guns and soldiers, knives)

Clothing (other than a hat, cap, gloves, scarf)

Glass containers, mirrors or fragile items

Liquids of any type (e.g. blow bubbles, shampoos, bubble bath, toiletry sets or aerosols)

Marbles or sharp objects

Anything of a political, racial or religious nature

Medicines

Novels

[morbidstorm]

Thanks for that - there's a drop off point in our town centre - Perfect!!

Asking in shoe shops is a fab idea - I'll try our local tesco and asda too! I'm going to wrap mine in xmas paper, and I'll see if I get people at work involved too.
I might hold a sat afternoon, where people at work bring their kids in and we have everything set up on a big table and we all wrap and fill boxes!!

Oh, I'm so excited now! I love xmas, and this will make it extra special, thinking of those delighted faces on Christmas morning!!