One little tiny extra item on your shopping each week... (Samaritan's Purse)

Member Name: katyboo123

Product:	Samaritan's Purse
Date:	11/11/09 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You are giving

Disadvantages: Cost - if you dont have the money £10-£15 is a lot to find, instead enlist the help of friends!

Each year the Samaritan's do this fantastic appeal - you can usually pick up entry forms in Asda. You basically fill up a gift wrapped shoe box with items for Children in Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia who aren't fortunate enough to get gifts.

Each box must be packed according to strict guidelines. If you are not part of a group who organise this then each box needs a £2.50 donation, to allow for administration and postage costs - anything left over is donated to the Samaritan's Purse. A lot of Churches, Schools, etc do these shoe boxes, and they can normally subsidise the cost - my local church is doing them with a 30p submission fee.

You will be amazed at how much you can fit into the box - in mine I have the following, all bought from Asda or the £1 shop - I have just been buying a little at a time week by week with my regular shopping:

Pencils (20p), Pens (20p), Pencil Crayons (10p), Wax Crayons (50p), Colouring Book and Colour Paper Selection (£2), Toothpaste (50p), Toothbrushes (£1 for 10), Hair Brush and Comb, Bobbles and Clips (set £1), flannel and flower scrunchie puff (50p each), Gloves, Hat, Scarf set (£7), Make your Own Jewellery Set (£1), 3 bags of Jelly Sweets (39p each or 3 for £1).

Total cost: £15.50 plus £2.50 donation - less than any one individual gift I will buy for family and friends this year and it will make a child happy and smile, I just hope one year, I can donate my time, to go and deliver them. I think it would be very rewarding.

Ideas: If you work in a large corporation as I do, email your department. Ask each person to donate 1 thing - if they cant be bothered to go out to the shops and buy something ask them to donate £2.50. This way you can make up several boxes, you're doing something to help, plus you are not actually spending any money! Unless you want to and make up some additional boxes.

Things you can send

Small Toys: Bear, soft toy, tennis ball, finger puppets, jigsaw, yo-yo, building blocks, small musical instrument. For boys trucks and cars, for girls dolls, clip on earrings, etc.
Educational Supplies: Felt Pens, pens, pencils, pencil sharpener, crayons, eraser, colouring book, notepad, picture or puzzle book, chalk, pencil case, stickers, etc.
Hygiene Items: Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, soap, comb, flannel, hair clips or brush, etc.
Other Items: Sweets (like jellies, boiled sweets, etc to be in date until at least March 2010), gloves, scarf, sunglasses, cap, hat, bangles, necklaces, etc.

Things you cannot send

No food, especially chocolate (although non choc sweets are ok, see above)
No medicines or vitamins of any kind
No war related items, toy guns, soldiers or knives of any kind
No clothing, other than listed above
No fragile items including glass containers, mirrors, etc
No liquids including blow bubbles, shampoo, bubble bath, aerosols
No dangerous items, any sharp objects like scissors or razors
No novels
Nothing of a political nature
No soft toys without a CE mark (including home knitted items)

Happy Shoe Boxing!

Summary: Send a gift to someone not as fortunate as you xx