Greetings

‘Tis I, your mildly insane Youff Leader again with an announcement:

Christmas is coming!!!

If that thought fills you with fear and dread, I apologise.  However if that reminder brings cheer and a smile to your face – yayyyyy!!  Either way, we at G7Teen would like to help bring smiles to the faces of children living in poverty stricken areas in Third World countries.  Thus, we will be collecting items (and shoeboxes) for Operation Christmas Child, a charity that sends shoeboxes filled with toys, games, pens, pencils etc, to children in these areas and bring a bit of love from those of us who have plenty.

We’re hoping to decorate and fill shoeboxes this Sunday (I know it’s short notice, but the last day we can drop off shoeboxes is November 18th).  If you’d like to contribute some items (shoeboxes, items listed in the Yippee column below, wrapping paper etc) please let me know and I’ll arrange a pick-up time.  Alternatively G7Teen meets at 6:30pm in Charing Barn (I usually show up from 6pm) so if you’d like to drop stuff off then we would be more than happy to relieve you of said items.  You don’t have to get a load of stuff, just one or two items and we’ll see how many shoeboxes we get from it.

Below is a list of what is acceptable and unacceptable as donations:

Yippee! Add me!! —

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.

Doh!  These items are a No —

Food: especially chocolate (non-chocolate sweets are allowed)

Medicine or vitamins of any kind

War related items:  toy guns, soldiers or knives of any kind

Clothing  other than listed above

Fragile items:  glass containers, mirrors.

Liquids:  including blow bubbles, shampoo, bubble bath, toiletry sets or aerosols.

Dangerous items:  sharp objects, scissors or razors

Novels

Hand-knitted stuffed toys without a CE mark

Nothing of a political nature

Thanks so much in advance!  We really appreciate it!

Mim and G7Teen

For more information about Operation Christmas Child go to

www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk