Shoe Box Appeal

This year the children in St. Patrick's De la Salle BNS are again helping out with the Shoe Box Appeal, otherwise known as Operation Christmas Child. This is a lovely idea whereby children fill a shoebox for a girl or a boy & send it to children in need in Eastern Europe or Southern Africa.

WHAT IS THE SHOE BOX APPEAL?

The Shoe Box Appeal or Operation Christmas Child Started in North Wales in the early 1990’s. It is now the world’s largest children’s Christmas project.Last year almost seven and a half million needy children in nearly 100 countries received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox, and over 300,000 of those boxes came from Ireland ! Many of these children are in orphanages, street-kid shelters, hospitals or in families stuck in the poverty trap. Their Christmas day is just like any other day, and for many their shoebox is the only present they receive. It means so much to the boy or girl to know that someone, far away, whom they will never meet, is thinking of them. Last year shoeboxes from Ireland went to Romania, Belarus, Croatia, Ukraine, Serbia, Armenia, Mozambique and Swaziland.

If you would like to be part of this wontderful appeal, here's what to do;

1.Find an empty medium-size adult shoe box & cover it in Christmas/gift paper making sure that you wrap the lid and box separately.

2.Decide whether your gift will be for a BOY or a GIRL, and which age category. Your child has been given a leaflet with the stickers in school. Alternatively click here to print one or ask Marcella in school & she will provide you with another one. Tick the appropriate box, and stick this to the outside of the lid (on the top right as you would a stamp on a letter).

3.Fill the shoe box with the gifts listed below. Please don’t wrap any items individually or overfill your box.

4.IMPORTANT Please enclose €3 or more in an envelope. Place the envelope inside the box, but on the top of the gifts so that it is clearly visible when it is opened. (Your €3 goes towards the promotion, transport, processing and distribution costs of running the project). If you have more than one box a donation of €3 will suffice, however you can donate more if you wish.

5.Secure the lid with an elastic band, and do not seal the box as it will need to be checked to ensure it meets customs requirements.

WHAT TO PUT IN THE BOX

Essential Items

A cuddly toy
A toothbrush, toothpaste
A bar of soap
A notepad, colouring book
Picture books
Pencils and pens
A set of crayons or felt pens
A hat, cap, gloves, scarf or other small clothing items

Extras
A small ball or tennis ball
A puzzle e.g. small jigsaw
For boys: a toy car, truck, passenger plane or similar item
For girls: jewellery (e.g. pair of clip earrings, make-up or hair accessories)
A greeting card or a photo of yourself
Sweets (must be well within sell-by date)

Items not allowed

Please do not include items from any of the following categories:
Other edible items (e.g. crisps, biscuits, tinned food or cake)
War related items (e.g. toy guns and soldiers, knives)
Clothing (other than listed above)
Glass containers, mirrors or fragile items
Liquids of any type (e.g. blow bubbles, shampoos, bubble bath, toiletry sets or aerosols)
Marbles or sharp objects
Medicines
Books with words

For more information on the Shoe Box (Christmas Child) Appeal visit the Samaritan Purse Website http://www.samaritanspurse.ie/index.php