I've decided that the various domestic arts projects that I am doing at the moment should all be written about under the heading of "Preparing for Christmas"...
"Operation Christmas" doesn't refer to the preparations for Christmas in my flathold, although it could well do, but instead to a charity Christmas project which I've found out about just in the nick of time. Operation Christmas Child sends shoeboxes filled with toys and basic toiletries to orphans and vulnerable children living overseas - it started 20 years ago sending to Romania, and now sends to a number of other countries in need. My parents used to organise a church event to send boxes off as part of this when I was growing up, but I had completely forgotten about the scheme until I saw various mentions on twitter and facebook. I was a little frustrated as I would have loved to have organised a collection of shoeboxes at work, and will try to get myself organised to do it next year, but I am in the middle of filling a shoebox myself. After all, I may be trying to keep costs to a minimum this year, but I have still spent far more on people who will have far more spent on them than the children who will be receiving shoeboxes. The principle is very simple - find a shoe box and cover it with Christmas paper, choose sex, and age-group of the child, and then buy some small gifts to fill it with, ideally a mix of hygiene items, toys and educational items, such as pens. They don't have to be expensive and there are plenty of ideas on the site. Once filled, you take it along to a local collection point (several shoe shops in Oxford are participating) and drop it off with a £2.50 donation towards the cost of transporting it to wherever it will go. I would defy anyone not to be moved by the video of children opening their boxes here. The deadline for drop-offs is 18th November, so those in the UK still have time to fill a box too...
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My son's school is a collection point so I'm filling one of these boxes this week. It is hard to decide what to include as there is so much choice, but I am enjoying it :-)
ReplyDeleteI have friends doing this and it is such a generous and caring endeavour.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wondeful idea. I have never heard of this before and it has been running 20 years. I shall definitely look into this.
ReplyDeleteI've just checked and there's a collection site quite near me - very tempted to join in, as it's such a lovely idea.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great project - we used to do it at school - I should get my self in gear and try and do it in time.
ReplyDeleteVerity we used to do this from school all the time and someone from my mum's work collected a few years ago so we filled a box for her. Didn't know there was a website where you could check out drop off points, looks like there's one near me so I might see if I can find a box and fill it.
ReplyDeleteGlad that this post has encouraged some other people to join in :) I need to go and get a few more bits for my box this weekend.
ReplyDeleteWe do this in lieu of a Secret Santa at the library...such a heartwarming feeling when we pool our gifts. Truly the spirit of Christmas!
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