Unsuitable or Inappropriate Items
Every year, at processing centres around the UK, teams of trained seasonal volunteers check the contents of each shoebox before it is sent to a child in need. Their aim is to keep each shoebox exactly as it was packed, by you, our generous supporters, while checking each item against a number of important criteria, such as:
- To make sure we comply with customs requirements of the countries we are sending to.
- To make sure we respect the cultural and religious contexts of the communities we are sending to.
- And to ensure that the items packed are in a clean and safe condition for the child who will receive them.
- Occasionally, we might need to remove an item that doesn’t match one of these criteria.
- Inappropriate items include Toothpaste, sweets, lotions and liquids; used or damaged items; war-related items; seeds, gum, chocolate or food items; religious or political literature; medicines, aerosol cans, sharp or fragile items.
Where possible, any items that need to be removed are donated to other charities.
Charities we’ve donated to:
Over the years we have developed relationships with many UK-based charities and donated towards their work. Examples include:
- Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Services – food items and liquid toiletries
- West Kent Drug and Alcohol Wellbeing Service (CGL) – food items and liquid toiletries
- Nunsthorpe Maternity Hospital
- Local women’s aid and refuge charities
- Soup kitchens
- YMCA
- Salvation Army
If you are aware of any charities which you feel may benefit from this do please let us know at occ@samaritans-purse.org.uk.
