Christmas Shoebox Appeal - Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child wants your help in filling up a shoebox with small Christmas gifts for children who go without. When I think of Christmas morning here, it is a flurry of activity, gifts are stacked up and we are knee deep in festive wrapping. The joy and delight on our little monkey's faces as they tear off the paper to see what's inside is every parent's pleasure. We want you to think of those children who will not get a present this year and ask you to help bring a little joy to a child this Christmas.


Please take a moment to watch this short video and see what a difference the smallest kindness can make.

How do I get involved?

Find an empty shoebox

The shoebox should ideally be medium size, as shown. Wrap the lid and the box separately in wrapping paper (before going on to insert your gifts).


Decide if your gift is for a boy or girl

Click here to download  girl/boy stickers (or click here to download a copy of entire leaflet). Then tick the appropriate age box on the sticker provided, remove it from the leaflet and stick on the outside of the lid (top right). Make sure the label is secure.


Toys: Bear, soft toy, tennis ball, finger puppet, 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, eraser, colouring book, notepad, picture or puzzle book, chalk, pencil case, stickers, etc.
Hygiene Items: Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, comb, hair clips, bar of soap, flannel, etc.
Other Items: Sweets (sell-by date to be at least March of the following year), gloves, scarf, sunglasses, cap, hat, bangles, necklaces etc.
All gifts should be new, please include items from each category.

Please do NOT include:
Food, especially chocolate. Non-chocolate sweets are allowed.
No medicine or vitamins.
No war related items such as toy guns, soldiers, knives. No clothing other than listed above
No fragile items glass containers, mirrors.
No liquids including blow bubbles, shampoo, bubble bath, toiletry sets or aerosols. No dangerous items sharp objects, scissors or razors
No novels
Nothing of a political nature
No hand-knitted stuffed toys without a CE mark

Make your donation
We suggest a minimum of £2.50 donation per shoebox - which helps ensure your shoebox gets to where it needs to go. Please donate online if at all possible - so you can know exactly where your shoebox goes. If not, please complete the donation slip from the downloaded OCC leaflet, enclose a cash or cheque donation, and then place the payment/slip in your shoebox on top of the contents.

Drop off your shoebox

Ensure your shoebox is secured with a rubber band around the outside.Take your shoebox to your nearest drop off point between November 1st - 18th. You can use our online locator to find your nearest drop off point.

For further information and ideas please see http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/

A fantastic idea to get more people involved is happening over on Mummymummymum's lovely blog. Those who share a photo of their completed box on her Facebook page is in with a chance of winning some fab prizes! Click on the above link for more details.

Please donate a shoebox.. it really doesn't take much time or money to do (especially when you consider the amount of money generally spent on Christmas gifts) and will make a disadvantaged little person very happy indeed!