Do you remember doing a gift shoebox for charity as a child? I remember that we all used to make them at school or at playgroup each year, and as I’ve become an adult I’d just assumed that this charity gifting no longer went on. But it certainly does! The Samaritans run www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk which asks for donations of christmas gifts in a shoebox for either a boy or a girl and they distribute the boxes to children overseas.
For the first time ever, you can now track your shoebox to find out where it goes to – make a shipping donation of £2.50 online and Operation Christmas Child will email you around Christmas time to let you know where your shoebox has ended up. There are still many local groups collecting for the shoebox appeal within the next week (I know that the village church near me is still taking donations!) so check your local newspaper or village newsletter to find out when collections or wrapping parties are going on in your area. Shoe retailers Shoezone and Stead & Simpson are giving away shoeboxes to fill, and some store are also taking collection of the filled boxes, so give your local store a call to find out their deadline for donations. And start wrapping!
