** Christmas Smiles In A Shoebox ** (Link Romania Shoebox Appeal)

Member Name: malibu_jenny

Product:	Link Romania Shoebox Appeal
Date:	20/12/08 (412 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Bringing joy to a family on Christmas Day.

Disadvantages: Hard work to organise, but worth it.

Once upon a time, there was a girl who thought it would be nice to organise a gift for those who had nothing on Christmas Day. She also thought it would be nice to get everyone involved. However, things were not as simple as she'd first hoped and here is her story.

Stop for a minute amongst all the wrapping paper, tinsel and tat. Ignore the carols blasting from Poundland or the feeding frenzy at the Woolworths closing down sale and imagine for a minute. I'm not asking you to feel guilty because some families are homeless victims of war or because there are children alone in desolate orphanages; guilt won't get us anywhere. I'm asking you to imagine what you would need if that were you. And how, if you received some of these luxuries, it would be an indication that someone out there, however far away, cared.

It's possible to help people in a way that doesn't involve the impersonal giving of money and this is the thinking behind the Christmas Shoebox Appeals. The idea is that you get a shoebox, wrap it in Christmas paper and fill it with simple gifts. This shoebox will then be transported abroad and given to the deserving. Ideally, the giving of the shoebox is something everyone can relate to. It's an opportunity to be creative and give within your budget; there's a sense of achievement when the box is complete and it makes you count your blessings rather than wonder if your own Christmas could be better. I decided that for Christmas 2008 that I would encourage my colleagues to take part and each of us would supply a shoebox.

My first inclination was towards the well-organised Samaritan's Purse charity. Their 'Operation Christmas Child' appeal is designed so that you choose whether to give to a boy or a girl within a certain age range and choose your gifts specifically with that child in mind. Although it all sounds fine in principle, there are countless threads on the internet now devoted to horror stories about this particular charity and their misuse of the shoeboxes. I can't say for sure if there is truth behind the allegations, but apparently they only give out the boxes to children who sit through Christian conversion classes or open them and fill them with religious literature before dispensing them to non-Christian children. I'm not religious and even if I were, I'd hate to think that the shoeboxes were being given out with strings attached.

I also looked into the possibility of sending shoeboxes to those fighting overseas in the Army. Again, there were complaints on the internet that these were dumped in fields or left unopened in storage. Add to that the fact that I didn't want to enter the political minefield of whether or not we should be in Iraq.

So I hunted high and low, eventually coming up with a charity that promised 'not [to] distribute Shoeboxes according to the recipient's ethnic origin or faith, only their need'. Link Romania's appeal was for whole families, not just the children, and there was something about giving the mums and dads a present too that warmed me. And so I sent off for the leaflets and started putting up posters.

Getting people interested was more difficult than expected and responses were varied; from 'Charity begins at home' through to 'Can't I just give you the money'. Ironically, when I contacted the local child services to see if there were any families nearby who needed this kind of help, the answer was only immigrant families. Yes, please, if they wanted to give me the money I would take it and fill a shoebox on their behalf. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I don't for a minute think any less of those who didn't want to participate, I absolutely respect the fact that people choose to support other charities and this in itself is a good thing.

My heart goes out to the people who joined in straightaway and entered into the spirit of things. Shoeboxes took shape under desks all over the place and each of them seemed to reflect the personality of the maker. The more practical put in household goods such as teaspoons (perfect for feeding babies, measuring, medicines, or even stirring tea), the sentimental added cuddly toys, the fun loving chose bouncy balls and everyone who felt the cold was digging out unworn bobble hats and gloves. A box was provided in the reception for donations and we got Ralph Lauren hats and scarves, Body Shop and Melton Brown soaps and unworn baby clothes. Every single box we packed had a bit of everything and there was not one box that I wouldn't have been overjoyed to receive on Christmas day.

Bit by bit, those of us who were prepared to do the shoeboxes got on with filling them and in the meantime donations flooded in. The whole thing really hit home as I struggled back from Clarks, laded with the third lot of shoeboxes in the pouring rain. If someone else was organising this I would be enjoying filling the shoebox, but it's a lot less fun when the responsibility falls squarely on your shoulders. One of the lowest moments came when I realised that lots of people hadn't sellotaped the £2 for delivery of the shoebox onto the leaflet. Conveniently, a whole meeting emptied into the office just as we smashed open the charity box to get change. A good look.

Add to that the rumours that abounded. Allegedly all the beautiful shoeboxes would be dismantled and sold by the families to buy drugs or alcohol. That was if they even got there. After a great deal of worry on this matter I watched the Link Romania videos on youtube and made the decision that I would take that chance. Sometimes in life you have to have faith and this was one of these times. If even one family got the shoebox they so badly needed on Christmas day and used the gifts in it the whole project would be worthwhile. Reassuringly, this charity allows you to seal the box (unlike similar appeals). Since sending the boxes, I watched an article on the news where they actually followed those boxes to Romania and they were going to families who were opening them with looks of delight.

When I asked if we could include our names and addresses for the families to write to us, it was up to the sender. However the charity advised against it as there had been cases in the past where the sender had been contacted with begging letters from the family and friends of the recipients. Finally, remember that when sending them off, you need to meet the deadline (this year it was the 07th November), fill in the customs form and find a way of transporting them to the nearest collection point which may be some distance away.

So, was it all worth it? Absolutely. Imagine how you'd feel if you could see the family who opens this on Christmas day, or the child in an orphanage to whom a simple bar of soap makes such a difference.

Now, if I haven't completely put you off the idea, or if you are lucky enough to have someone else losing sleep over the organisation, here is the list we came up with for suggested contents. I tried, when packing my box, to think of items with more than one use, for example the flannels I put in were large enough to double as nappies.

Playing Cards
Bouncy Balls
First Aid Kit
Chalk
Socks
Cosy Socks
Tennis Ball
Toy Cars
Free Gifts from Magazines
Lip Salve
Soap
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Wax Crayons
Colouring Pencils
Sanitary Towels
Post its
Notepad
Back to school set
Sewing Kit
Mini Shampoo
Conditioner
Deodorant
Moisturiser
Flannel
Small Towel
Cuddly Toy
Mini Notepad
Colouring Book
Tights
Bracelets
Hairbands
Clip on Earrings
Safety Matches
Solar Powered Calculator
Pencil Sharpener
Safety Razor
Scarf
Hat
Gloves
Baseball Cap
Underwear
Beach Ball
Tupperware
Teaspoons
Yo-Yo
Rubix Cube
Stickers
Travel Games
Dominos
Tissues
Tea Towel
Lipstick
Hairbrush
Comb
Nail Clippers
Plasters
Nail Files
Tweezers
Felt Tips
Sweets
Jigsaw Puzzle
First Aid Kit

Summary: A Charity Appeal To Consider For 2009