You can expect holiday content to start in the second half of November on this blog, but I wanted to get this out in time. There are many ways to give back during the holiday season, and the Shoebox Project is one of my favourites. It is pretty easy to take part in, and you can involve as few or as many people as you like. It is also quite financially affordable to donate to. Today I’m going to be chatting about why you should take part in the Shoebox Project, and what you can do!
The Shoebox Project- The History
The Shoebox Project was founded in Toronto in 2011. It was founded to give back to women in shelters, a group that is often overlooked at Christmas. There are many groups that make sure that as many children as possible have gifts. Mens shelters will often do something for their clients/guests. However, women tend not to receive much. And many of them are mothers, and will give anything that they receive to their children. So, the Project set out to give a small shoebox of gifts to women to remind them that they are important as well. Some of the gifts are purely useful, some are purely fun, but it is a gift for them. It now has chapters in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and is becoming more and more successful! (I know that in my Canadian province, there are often extra boxes and they are taken to women in remote communities.) So, what can you do? Make a shoebox!
How to Make a Shoebox Project Box
If you would like to make a shoebox to donate to the Project, it is quite easy! You include $50 worth of gifts (which I will explain below), and if you get started now, you can pick up a few things when you do your weekly shopping to spread it out. You can also divide up a list with friends to make a box (or a few boxes)!
1. Get a standard-sized shoebox (not children’s sized or boot boxes); if you don’t have one, you can find them at the dollar store.
2. Wrap the box bottom and box lid separately- they have to be able to check the box before (to ensure shoeboxes aren’t hugely over or under the $50 value). If you don’t feel like wrapping, the dollar store boxes are pre-decorated!
3. Fill your box with $50 worth of items (see list below)- the goal is to provide everyone with the same value box. Personal note: if you like to include larger items like fluffy socks or a hat and mitts, they do take up room- plan accordingly! I will include one or the other, but you usually can’t fit both.
4. Include a holiday card with an inspirational message. The message doesn’t have to be anything profound, but let the recipient know that there are people thinking of them at the holidays! (I personally recommend steering clear of religious messages, as anyone could be receiving your box.)
5. Drop your box off at a designated location in your city by the deadline! The deadline is important- the Project volunteers do check every box, and then they have to coordinate transportation with the shelters and groups so that they are given out just before the holidays.
What to Include in Your Shoebox?
I usually include:
-A $10 drug store or coffee shop gift card
-$10 worth of bus tickets
-Fluffy socks and finger mittens, or mittens and a warm hat
-Deodorant
-Toothpaste and a toothbrush
-Face wipes
-Lip balm or lotion
-Chocolates and candy canes
-Word search or cards (and pen)
-Holiday card
You can buy a lot of the smaller things, like deodorant and toothbrush/toothpaste at the dollar store!
Make sure you DO NOT include:
-Anything that has already been used (as it isn’t a particularly nice gift)
-Any clothing that is sized
-Anything with alcohol (ie. hand sanitiser, mouth wash)
-Feminine Hygiene Products
-Razors
-Foundation/ Concealer (as not everyone has the same skin tone)
-Books
They do go through each box to check, but it makes the volunteers’ jobs a lot easier if you just don’t include it.
Host a Shoebox Making Party
If you want to get some of your friends and family involved, think about hosting a shoebox making party! You can invite everyone over for snacks and a holiday movie and ugly Christmas sweaters, and assemble your boxes together. You can either each make your own box, or have one person responsible for the same “element” in each box. My biggest recommendation for this though is making sure that you are organised ahead of time, and that everyone knows exactly what they are responsible for. It can be a lot of fun to do it together, and you can make it a regular holiday tradition. And make sure to share your party photos on social media with the hashtag #LoveWhatsInside!
♠
Many of us are very fortunate in our lives, and this is a small but meaningful way to give back. I support the Shoebox Project because it is for a group of people that are so often forgotten at the holidays, and it isn’t associated with a religious group. We can all be more inclusive, and I think that this is a lovely way to make a difference this holiday season. These donations often do take a bit of planning and organisation beforehand, but can go such a long way for someone.
Do you take part in the Shoebox Project or any other holiday projects?
Cheers,
The Historian
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I’d never heard of this before. What a nice way to spread cheer to a group that is usually overlook at the holidays!