Simple, Fun And Rewarding: Do Your Little Bit With The Kids This Christmas

A few empty shoeboxes around the house, a couple of kids to entertain and a rainy day to fill?

Get set to give a little to charity for Christmas this year. A bit of your spare-time, a few euros, a small bit of an artistic flair (not completely necessary) and you’re ready to make one small child a very happy kid this coming Christmas.

Team Hope’s Christmas Shoebox Appeal is back and this time they are aiming to deliver 195,000 gift-filled shoeboxes into the hands of needy children in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and Africa. These kids’ families typically live on less than €1 per day.

Watch how the kids reacted to their Santa present delivery last year…

The Steps:

1. Root out a spare shoebox, wrap with Christmas paper and fill with gifts.

2. Attach €4 to cover transport costs and bring it to any of the 200 drop-off points across the country before November 12^th.

3. For more information visit www.teamhope.ie

Present Ideas:

Stuff for school: Pencils, rulers, colouring books, notebooks, supply of paper, a solar-powered calculator

Stuff to munch! Try non-perishable sweets like lollipops or other hard candies

Stuff to play with: Toys that light up or make sounds are fascinating for children (make sure to include extra batteries), balls, yo-yos

Stuff to keep them clean: A very popular choice is a personal hygiene product. Try and pack toothbrushes, soap, combs, washcloths…

Stuff to wear: Try socks, t-shirts, scarves, gloves…Stuff for the girls: Pack dolls, doll clothing, toy jewellery, stickers, hairclips, posters

Stuff for the boys: Baseball caps, small cars, Frisbees, balls.

Don’t pack:

Anything war-related, such as toy guns or knives.

Used items

Liquids like shampoo, lotion, perishable foods, medicines

Anything that could be breakable

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It will be one of your most satisfying experiences in your preparation for Christmas and your own children will love the chance to pack presents for another girl or boy somewhere less fortunate in the world.

We’ll be packing our boxes soon in the Her.ie office! If you have any more tips, just comment below…