Shoebox Ideas

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Community Groups

Operation Christmas Child can help your community group help suffering children in a ‘hands' on' way. It is easy to organise and is a great way to get new members to join your group. It strengthens friendships and builds bridges into the community.

girlGroups Since its inception over 20 years ago, Operation Christmas Child has been supported by many community groups such as Women's institutes, Inner Wheels, Brownies Guides and Scouts Groups and many more - all joining us year after year.

Our Operation Christmas Child leaflet tells you everything you need to know - the size of shoebox what to pack, age ranges, the donation and dropping off your shoebox.

It's Easy to Get Your Group Involved

1. Order shoebox leaflets, posters and DVD for your group here - you will need a leaflet for each of your members

2. Handout the leaflets - encourage everyone in the group to take part

3. If you have ordered 50+ leaflets you will get a call from our volunteers before 18^th Nov. They will arrange a pick up or tell you where you can take your shoeboxes

Here are some tips to get your community group started...

Have a social evening for non-members with refreshments at which you show the Operation Christmas Child DVD and distribute the leaflets
Or hold a launch event and invite an Operation Christmas Child Registered Volunteer to give a presentation
Invite local business contacts to donate educational and stationery items for your shoeboxes
Ask members who are keen on knitting to add that personal touch by producing hats, gloves and scarves - download our free patterns
Collect small items for the shoeboxes all year round
Have a fundraising event (e.g. Count Your Blessings) to raise the £2.50 donation per box
Have an evening when you wrap and fill your shoeboxes together
Arrange a date which all the shoeboxes are to be brought to the group meeting and hold a competition for best individual box

Operation Christmas Child is the perfect ‘group activity'. By pooling talents and resources, you'll be amazed at how quickly you can fill shoeboxes for children who have so little of the things we take for granted.

Groups Sue Proctor is a Youth Development Worker at North Tyneside Disability Forum who works with people with disabilities aged 9 - 25 at she told us.

"We have been involved in Operation Christmas Child for many years and we started because the children really wanted to get involved in this great way of helping others.

"When the shoeboxes are ready we sometimes get a group of the children to visit the Operation Christmas Child warehouse and they love to hear where their boxes are going. They feel that they can help people in a direct and personal way and get real joy out of helping others.

"This year we are helping again and want to use our outreach project which is a shop and internet café as a Drop Off point for the shoeboxes."

Before you start...

As well as the leaflets, posters and DVD you may also find the Thank You for 2010 PowerPoint presentation - is an excellent way to show your group how Operation Christmas Child brings hope and smiles to the faces of children in need.

If you would like for one of our Registered Volunteers to come to your group to talk about the work of Operation Christmas Child and how you can get involved in this year's campaign, please email info@samaritans-purse.org.uk or phone 020 8559 1180.