Does anyone know of a charity that sends shoeboxes filled with gifts to Africa or similar needy places.

I have found a few but they all seem to organised by religious groups that "spread the word".

Are there any that don't require that the children "thank Jesus" for their gifts?

Hiya Bonny,

If you find one pop up a posting!

I remember some years ago a cient of mine in one of the hospitals ran a scheme for Bosnia / Kosovo. They also tried to talk me in to going along as a vounteer but that's a different story.

He hasn't done it for a few years now, though. Have you tried contacting someone like the Red Cross?

Joe

I have contacted my tutor who works for the alliance for childhood.
If she gets bcak to me with anything I will post here Joe.

the only group I know of who do this, that I know of is the semi-religious group, Samaritan's Purse, who run Operation Christmas Child, which I believe has collection points in Sheffield.

the shoe boxes are filled with things like a toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, a woolly or otherwise warm hat/gloves/scarf, paper and pencils and or colouring books, and some toy that the child can play with, that is age appropriate.

there are non-religious/ non-denominational people who get involved in this project, but the supporters are mostly Christian...

the upside of the project is that they ask for non-aggressive toys, ie, not associated with war or fighting, (therefore no guns or weapons, or toys with weapons, like action-man etc)

If there are books given, they ask that they have only pictures in, no writing, even english.

they say:-
NO to
Used items
War-related items (toy guns, toy soldiers, knives, etc.)
Perishable items (chocolate, canned foods, crackers, etc.)
Liquids (shampoo, lotion, bubbles, etc.)
Medicines (vitamins, cough drops, ointment, etc.)
Breakable items (mirrors, china dolls, etc.)

the downside of the project is the Glurgey, (Imho) hyper-religious stuff on their website, that needs wading throughwhich includes sub-sections such as "Your walk with god..."

Why can't we, as caring human beings (of whatever faith, or indeed, none,) simply be permitted to just give, for the sake of giving? why does it have to be turned into some sort of "Notch up your brownie-points with God" thing?

the sad thing is, the religiosity of the site actually puts me off.... ggrrrr.

PT

My son has done two shoe boxes this year through his school for Samaritans purse with the boxes going to the Balkans etc.

He does it every year and its become part of our christmas now. Once we start with the shoe boxes I know I've got to get my backside into gear and do some christmas shopping.

Hope the religion of the organisers doesn't stop you getting involved Bonny.

Ok Folks, here we go.

I have one address at the moment and more to follow.

here is an Orphanage in Croatia that always needs help. I am posting some items there adn hope you will too (as well as the others that I list)

the address is as follows:

GORAN NICHOLS
Dom Zadjecu
Trg Franje
Tudmana
1
34551 Lipik
Croatia.



Please send clothing,
toys,
Books (pictures only or Janet and John type)
and anything else reasonable

This orphange has children from the ages of 4-18.

I will post another in Sarajevo that has children from birth upwards.

Also a Kindergarten that has set up in Cape Town that needs all the help it can get. Money donations are especially welcome and I will post details of how to make them.

They have done something similar to this at work.. Our place has filled 146 shoeboxes to be sent out :)

The one I listed doesn't go with the "message of Christianity" I personally object to it. Although I have to say that it does get people to donate who probably wouldn't so is still a good cause.

If you post things to the address above, it may cost you a little but you can be sure you are posting direct to the children without them having to thank a Christian God, sometimes in countries that the religion is not mainly Christianity.