Christmas Shoeboxes

Jellybaby1

Decided to post here as I discovered last year the subject is not welcome in the Christmas forum on Boards. I am planning another shoebox this year. I already have been collecting things over the year because I was a bit rushed last year. My main problem......finding a shoebox with a separate lid! Daft I know, but the few shops in Dublin I asked in don't have them.

lazygal

These shoeboxes are awful on many levels, not least the environmental impact of shipping cheap plastic stuff to other countries.

Jellybaby1

Plastic? Shoeboxes are made of cardboard. If you mean cheap plastic toys, there is a heck of a lot more plastic toys around in rich western countries. Have you never given anything of a plastic nature to someone for a present? Be honest. Look around your home, even your hairbrushes and combs are plastic!

beach_walker

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

My main problem......finding a shoebox with a separate lid!

But really, does it have to have a separate lid? The ones I've been gathering are similar to this kind of one





And ignore the A&A neckbeards, they need an oar in even on a topic like this.

homer911

They really don't need to have a separate lid. I've volunteered at the Dublin sorting centre in the past and they get all sorts in (and are very happy to get them)

Just do a search on Youtube and you'll see lots of excited kids thrilled to receive something from a stranger

Delirium

beach_walker wrote: »

But really, does it have to have a separate lid? The ones I've been gathering are similar to this kind of one





And ignore the A&A neckbeards, they need an oar in even on a topic like this.

MOD NOTE

No need for that. If you have a problem with a post, please report it.

Thanks for your attention.

ScumLord

Have a look at moving companies websites or the likes of viking direct. They sell all sorts of boxes for moving house. They usually have a range of flat pack boxes (with lids). It won't be a shoe box, I don't know if that makes a difference to the company sending them?

lazygal

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Plastic? Shoeboxes are made of cardboard. If you mean cheap plastic toys, there is a heck of a lot more plastic toys around in rich western countries. Have you never given anything of a plastic nature to someone for a present? Be honest. Look around your home, even your hairbrushes and combs are plastic!

Nope, my brushes are wooden with boar bristles.
These shoe boxes are purely for evangelism and aren't even given to children at Christmas sometimes by the time they're shipped.

Jellybaby1

I'm sure it doesn't really make any difference to the receiver, however, a separate lid was what the charity requests on their leaflet, so I thought I'd follow instructions, but on top of that, it is a lot easier to cover the box when the lid is separate. I'm filling a box for a 10-14 yr old boy.

antiskeptic

lazygal wrote: »

These shoeboxes are awful on many levels, not least the environmental impact of shipping cheap plastic stuff to other countries.

I would have thought folk in countries receiving such items are entitled to contribute to environmental degradation at a fraction of the total your own consumptive western lifestyle does. I assume you're surrounded by / avail of plastics shipped from all over the world.

It's their planet as much as (y)ours.

What other levels had you in mind?

eviltwin

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

I'm sure it doesn't really make any difference to the receiver, however, a separate lid was what the charity requests on their leaflet, so I thought I'd follow instructions, but on top of that, it is a lot easier to cover the box when the lid is separate. I'm filling a box for a 10-14 yr old boy.

It might be worth asking a shoe shop if they have any they don't need.

Jellybaby1

eviltwin wrote: »

It might be worth asking a shoe shop if they have any they don't need.

That's the usual route but a lot of shops have the boxes with the lids attached. Its not a big problem really. I will use what I get anyway. Thanks for the suggestions.

Edser

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Decided to post here as I discovered last year the subject is not welcome in the Christmas forum on Boards. I am planning another shoebox this year. I already have been collecting things over the year because I was a bit rushed last year. My main problem......finding a shoebox with a separate lid! Daft I know, but the few shops in Dublin I asked in don't have them.

Where are you based? I have one spare if you want it.

Lucy8080

River Island do shoe boxes with the separate lid.

Lavinia

Ikea will sort all your problems

recedite

Which charity is this for?
Is it for the protestant "bribe a child in a poor community to enroll in our evangelisation program" scheme?

Local churches use gift-filled shoeboxes as a tangible inroad for evangelism. The shoebox gifts allow them access to places they might never be welcomed otherwise.

beach_walker

recedite wrote: »

Which charity is this for?
Is it for the protestant "bribe a child in a poor community to enroll in our evangelisation program" scheme?

Well with 4,205 posts in A&A, I'm gonna take a wild guess and say you're gonna hardly be happy with any Christian charities am-i-rite? Oh well, good response to a thread enquiring about lids on shoe-boxes

Maybe best to try the... *lol*... environmental objection moreso than one involving Christianity in the Christianity forum.

Mancomb Seepgood

recedite wrote: »

Which charity is this for?

I'd imagine that it's Team Hope. They severed links with Samaritan's Purse and Franklin Graham some years ago,and don't include religious material in their boxes.

I'd have nothing to do with Samaritan's Purse, but Team Hope seem to be a legitimate, independent Irish charity.

Absolam

They do include an optional (with local leaders agreement) Christmas Card in the shoebox, with the message

"In Ireland, people give each other gifts at Christmas. This shoebox gift will help you celebrate Christmas too. It’s a time of year when we specially think about Jesus, who is God’s gift to everyone. The gifts in this shoebox are lovely, but they will not last forever. But Jesus, the greatest gift you could receive at Christmas time, is forever. Jesus came from heaven to earth, and was born into a poor family. He lived with ordinary people and He loved ordinary people – just like you. He still loves everyone today. You can be His friend, you can get to know Him and feel his special love for you. If you ask Jesus, you can be friends with God and He will be with you forever. He will care for you and love you always."

So there's no doubt that there's evangelical religious material in the boxes. I hadn't come across the concept until this year, and I think it's a great idea for a thing for kids to participate in; not least showing them that many children in the world will really appreciate Christmas presents of things our own take for granted. But the evangelising (whilst admittedly not exactly extreme), and the objections to the contents raised by reputable aid agencies would make me think that there are better, if less Christmasy feeling, alternatives.

solodeogloria

recedite wrote: »

Which charity is this for?
Is it for the protestant "bribe a child in a poor community to enroll in our evangelisation program" scheme?

Good morning!

Christians want people to know about Jesus because they care about their eternal welfare. Apparently you're shocked that Christians actually believe the Gospel.

I think that Samaritan's Purse and others need to be clear about this aim so that everyone is aware, but there's nothing sinister about offering love and kindness to others in Jesus' name from my point of view.

Much thanks in the Lord Jesus Christ,
solodeogloria

Manach

Perhaps large stores like TX Max might have a surplus. Most people when asked would be happy to assist such.

Mancomb Seepgood

Absolam wrote: »

They do include an optional (with local leaders agreement) Christmas Card in the shoebox, with the message

"In Ireland, people give each other gifts at Christmas. This shoebox gift will help you celebrate Christmas too. It’s a time of year when we specially think about Jesus, who is God’s gift to everyone. The gifts in this shoebox are lovely, but they will not last forever. But Jesus, the greatest gift you could receive at Christmas time, is forever. Jesus came from heaven to earth, and was born into a poor family. He lived with ordinary people and He loved ordinary people – just like you. He still loves everyone today. You can be His friend, you can get to know Him and feel his special love for you. If you ask Jesus, you can be friends with God and He will be with you forever. He will care for you and love you always."

So there's no doubt that there's evangelical religious material in the boxes. I hadn't come across the concept until this year, and I think it's a great idea for a thing for kids to participate in; not least showing them that many children in the world will really appreciate Christmas presents of things our own take for granted. But the evangelising (whilst admittedly not exactly extreme), and the objections to the contents raised by reputable aid agencies would make me think that there are better, if less Christmasy feeling, alternatives.

Ah, I had thought that they no longer included religious material in the boxes. Proselytising to children doesn't seem right to me. It may be that the boxes with the card are only distributed to the children of Christian families, but until Team Hope are a bit more forthcoming about this I would probably prefer to support other organisations.

It's a good idea in principal - a lot of people love shopping for toys.

Delirium

recedite wrote: »

Which charity is this for?
Is it for the protestant "bribe a child in a poor community to enroll in our evangelisation program" scheme?

MOD NOTE

The OP is looking for help sourcing shoeboxes.

Please don't derail the thread with off-topic discussion on what is the motivation of charity work.

Thanks for your attention.

recedite

Delirium wrote: »

MOD NOTE

The OP is looking for help sourcing shoeboxes.

Please don't derail the thread with off-topic discussion on what is the motivation of charity work.

Thanks for your attention.

Ah, well if that's all it is, I'd suggest asking for one in a shoe shop. They always have piles of empty shoe boxes.

But why is this thread in the Religion & Spirituality/Christianity forum?

Jellybaby1

Edser wrote: »

Where are you based? I have one spare if you want it.

Very kind but I will manage with what I have now.

recedite wrote: »

Ah, well if that's all it is, I'd suggest asking for one in a shoe shop. They always have piles of empty shoe boxes.

That's what I do, but as I said, the ones I went into only had the lids attached.

But why is this thread in the Religion & Spirituality/Christianity forum?

It is in the Christianity forum because its a charity that offers Christmas gifts to needy children. Christians and non-Christians alike give Christmas gifts to needy children every year. Also, I was run out of the "Christmas" thread elsewhere on Boards last year, so where else do you go with Christmas giving questions then?

Nick Park

Mancomb Seepgood wrote: »

Ah, I had thought that they no longer included religious material in the boxes. Proselytising to children doesn't seem right to me. It may be that the boxes with the card are only distributed to the children of Christian families, but until Team Hope are a bit more forthcoming about this I would probably prefer to support other organisations.

It's a good idea in principal - a lot of people love shopping for toys.

Talking about Jesus at Christmas time. What is the world coming to?

Mancomb Seepgood

Nick Park wrote: »

Talking about Jesus at Christmas time. What is the world coming to?

That wasn't what I meant at all. I actually really like the message, I would just have a concern that if it was sent to non-Christian families, it might be perceived as bypassing the parents who might be very glad to have some joy and happiness brought into the lives of their children, but who are bringing their children up in their own faith. The cultural and spiritual needs of the recipients of aid are often overlooked, by charities which usually have the best of intentions.

I'm certainly not going to criticise the efforts of of Christian charities, the majority of which do incredible work in alleviating suffering and misery in this world.

Jellybaby1

I want to send a shoebox full of gifts to a child who probably has very little. Personally I do not see this as an opportunity to pass on my own Christian faith. I see it as an opportunity to give a shoebox full of gifts to a child who probably has very little. It is a decent thing to do. I really don't care if this upsets anyone else.

Mancomb Seepgood

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

I want to send a shoebox full of gifts to a child who probably has very little. Personally I do not see this as an opportunity to pass on my own Christian faith. I see it as an opportunity to give a shoebox full of gifts to a child who probably has very little. It is a decent thing to do. I really don't care if this upsets anyone else.

I know a good few people who send the boxes and all do it with that intent. I certainly wouldn't criticise anyone for giving in a generous spirit, its up to each person who they donate to, there are plenty of good charities out there. Its nobody's business but your own.

I'll take my own advice and leave it there, but if you're stuck for a container I think some people have used tupperware type boxes as well. A plastic container could be quite handy for the recipient family.

Jellybaby1

Yes, I've heard that some people do send the plastic boxes as they are very practical for storage, particularly in areas where they experience flooding.

cloloco

I got leaflet home from the school today and it's from Team Hope. Looks like pretty practical stuff they request to fill them (nothing religious). I do it every year as well as the SVP giving tree, it a good way to teach children about being charitable as well as maybe making a child happy. Anyway, in terms of boxes, if you can't get one with a seperate lid its fine to cut the lid off and wrap it separately then pop it back on and secure with an elastic band.

Delirium

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

It is in the Christianity forum because its a charity that offers Christmas gifts to needy children. Christians and non-Christians alike give Christmas gifts to needy children every year. Also, I was run out of the "Christmas" thread elsewhere on Boards last year, so where else do you go with Christmas giving questions then?

MOD NOTE

It would be appreciated if you could stop with this claim when the closing post of the thread you're alluding shows that not to be the case.

For future reference, if you have an issue with how a forum is run please make use of HelpDesk forum. Don't complain about the forum in another forum.

Thanks for your attention.

eviltwin

cloloco wrote: »

I got leaflet home from the school today and it's from Team Hope. Looks like pretty practical stuff they request to fill them (nothing religious). I do it every year as well as the SVP giving tree, it a good way to teach children about being charitable as well as maybe making a child happy. Anyway, in terms of boxes, if you can't get one with a seperate lid its fine to cut the lid off and wrap it separately then pop it back on and secure with an elastic band.

You don't fill them with anything religious, they do before they are sealed. I'm not sure how it works now. I know that at one stage when it was being run by a different group there were stories from volunteers on the ground that the boxes were only given to those families who identified as Christian or promised to become Christian and that is probably why so many people have an issue with them. I'm pretty sure the new people are running a different show though.

I like the idea of shoeboxes because you can fill one quite cheaply which is ideal if you are low on money. We did the homeless shoebox last year with our kids. Hopefully they do that again this year.

Jellybaby1

Delirium wrote: »

MOD NOTE

It would be appreciated if you could stop with this claim when the closing post of the thread you're alluding shows that not to be the case.

For future reference, if you have an issue with how a forum is run please make use of HelpDesk forum. Don't complain about the forum in another forum.

Thanks for your attention.

Apologies. I had un-followed the thread so was unaware of what happened later.

homer911

eviltwin wrote: »

You don't fill them with anything religious, they do before they are sealed.

Actually they don't.


Shoeboxes received are assessed for suitable content and completeness at the sorting center (Boxes going to Africa have chocolate removed, which is put into the boxes going to Eastern Europe). Unsuitable items such as toy guns are removed. Boxes only partially filled have extra items added, provided by corporate donors.


No religious material is in the box when it leaves Ireland. The boxes are sealed with tape for customs purposes. When they arrive at their destination, the tape is slit, leaving the lid held in place by the rubber band. Some (not all) local distribution groups may then add a card indicating the reason for the gift before the boxes are distributed to the children

forgodssake

Hi op I've always used the shoe boxes with the lid attached . As long as the lid can be opened to check the contents it's ok . I do this this with my kids and their school each year . Its so lovely to teach our kids about the recipients of the boxes and how little these people have .