Samaritan's Purse

[formill]

The information sent home was describing how my child's class was going to go shopping with the class and pack these boxes to send..........it was not a flyer sent home with info for us to do in our own time. School time was to be spent on this. Our info home showed "packing boxes for children in need"- and put the name of the organization which I then googled and then contacted the teacher.......

 

[taylor3297]

I have several friends who volunteer with the shoe boxes each year. Even if you don't agree with Samaritans Purse, you don't have to worry about where your shoe box goes or to whom receives the box.

When the boxes are delivered they are delivered to children with no strings attached. The money you have to send in with the box totally pays for the shipping of the box and nothing else.

My friends have worked in the warehouse and have been on actual trips to deliver the boxes. The people in the other countries do know what type of organization is giving the boxes and really don't care who the organization may donate too. They are just glad to have the boxes to help the kids.

I myself do not donate directly to Samaritans Purse, but I do fill 2 shoe boxes each year.

 

[canadianjovigirl]

Only reason I know about it is because my public school child came home with info about how they were going to pack these shoeboxes!! I looked it up online and was shocked.....then read more and there are actually many public schools supporting it without getting the proper information about it or passing that info to parents. Some schools in Calgary Alberta and Northern Ontario have now banned them........but there are still more that are unaware of the true mission in these boxes and it has nothing to do with helping needy children.
http://pursestrings.ca/
http://www.inminds.co.uk/occ.html

We are not far from Calgary AB and our schools still do them if the kids wish to participate..............but then again our schools were one of the only ones that still said the Lords Prayer after singing O Canada each morning............that was only stopped 2 years ago and those who did not want to participate in the prayer just stood quietly.

I think we all have chooses as to which charities etc we participate in and have no issue with others doing different then i do.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Yes, I would absolutely say that if a school sends home a flyer to parents, it is showing support. Look at it this way: before that flyer is sent out, it is looked over by someone from the school or school board, copies are distributed to the schools and/or classrooms (often through the school system's distribution system), and the teacher takes time to either hand them out or put them in a package of handouts. All that costs money, and is in effect the school doing marketing for the program.

I think that's wrong.

And maybe some of the parents can/will research it, but others may not have time or the resources (not everyone has Internet access). Some may be caught up in the idea of "helping needy kids" and not be aware of the other side.

Frankly, even if I was a Christian I would not want to support these groups, because I really dislike these manipulative attempts to convert children and young people with "free gifts" or recreational programs. (Not to mention the whole anti-gay rights side of it.)

TP

 

[taylor3297]

Yes, I would absolutely say that if a school sends home a flyer to parents, it is showing support. Look at it this way: before that flyer is sent out, it is looked over by someone from the school or school board, copies are distributed to the schools and/or classrooms (often through the school system's distribution system), and the teacher takes time to either hand them out or put them in a package of handouts. All that costs money, and is in effect the school doing marketing for the program.

I think that's wrong.

And maybe some of the parents can/will research it, but others may not have time or the resources (not everyone has Internet access). Some may be caught up in the idea of "helping needy kids" and not be aware of the other side.

Frankly, even if I was a Christian I would not want to support these groups, because I really dislike these manipulative attempts to convert children and young people with "free gifts" or recreational programs. (Not to mention the whole anti-gay rights side of it.)

TP

The kids are not required to sit through any sermon or "conversion" type program to receive the boxes. The boxes are given with no strings attached.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

So if an organization chose to take out the pamphlet and replace it with a Quran before giving it to the kids, Samaritan's purse would still use them?

If not, there are strings attached.

 

[taylor3297]

So if an organization chose to take out the pamphlet and replace it with a Quran before giving it to the kids, Samaritan's purse would still use them?

If not, there are strings attached.

I don't have an answer to that but I will ask someone who may know. What I meant by no strings attached, is that the child who receives the box, does not have to do anything in return. He/she can have the box, what is in the box and throw away the pamphlet if there is one in the box.

The boxes I have packed did not have a pamphlet in the box. Now whether one is added at the warehouse before shipping out, I don't know. Will ask my friends who volunteer at the warehouse.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Here's what it says on the website:
Copies of a book entitled The Greatest Gift of All, which has been translated into 130 different languages, are offered to children after the shoe box has already been distributed.

Following the shoe box distributions, local churches and our ministry partners are equipped with a 12-lesson Bible study course, titled The Greatest Journey, which introduces children to Jesus, shows them how to receive Him and follow Him, and equips them to share their faith with family and friends.


Perhaps the child can throw away the book and not attend the bible study course, but, gee, they just got this box of gifts! It would feel rude to throw away the book. And oh, they've been invited to this course. Maybe there will be more gifts! These people seem so nice!

That's what I mean by manipulative. They are giving these gifts to the children in order to make the children more receptive to taking the book and the bible study. I think that's wrong. Let the children's parents talk to them about religion, if they choose to. If you want to convert people to your religion, talk to the adults, who are less likely to be swayed by a shoebox full of gifts.

TP

 

[taylor3297]

Here's what it says on the website:
Copies of a book entitled The Greatest Gift of All, which has been translated into 130 different languages, are offered to children after the shoe box has already been distributed.

Following the shoe box distributions, local churches and our ministry partners are equipped with a 12-lesson Bible study course, titled The Greatest Journey, which introduces children to Jesus, shows them how to receive Him and follow Him, and equips them to share their faith with family and friends.


Perhaps the child can throw away the book and not attend the bible study course, but, gee, they just got this box of gifts! It would feel rude to throw away the book. And oh, they've been invited to this course. Maybe there will be more gifts! These people seem so nice!

That's what I mean by manipulative. They are giving these gifts to the children in order to make the children more receptive to taking the book and the bible study. I think that's wrong. Let the children's parents talk to them about religion, if they choose to. If you want to convert people to your religion, talk to the adults, who are less likely to be swayed by a shoebox full of gifts.

TP

Many choose not to attend and that is okay. Some do attend the first lesson but don't return. This is from someone who volunteers in the warehouse. She told me about the book and the lessons.

Since she has only worked the warehouse, I left message for friend who has gone on the actual trips to deliver the boxes.

 

[LauraEadon]

I'm flabbergasted by some of the comments here.

Thank you to those who want to help with this awesome charity.

All I can think about are the shelters, food pantries and other (MANY) good things the churches in my area do.

You will never (ever ever ever) find someone who believes EVERYTHING you believe. All those "someones" are a part of different businesses, churches, charities, etc.

By your statements, we should just never donate to anything or buy from any business.

I suppose I shouldn't buy popcorn from the boy scouts because a boy scout was denied his Eagle Award for being gay. Clearly that means the whole organization is tainted and they are therefore indoctrinating the children to be anti-gay on our donations.

The Catholic church in the area that feeds, clothes and shelters thousands of locals every winter- clearly they are only out for donations so they can turn around and indoctrinate each person that comes through the doors with all their "strings attached" for the needs they are caring for.

I don't hear anyone say- Wait, you're a church? Then I'd rather be cold and hungry then to hear "God Bless You". I'd rather not accept money to pay my heating bill if I have to look at that Christian flyer that you handed me.

That is all I'm saying on the topic and on this site.

 

[formill]

The kids are not required to sit through any sermon or "conversion" type program to receive the boxes. The boxes are given with no strings attached.

You are not doing any research on this operation if that is your view. There are many christian organizations that give without strings this is not one.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

So if an organization chose to take out the pamphlet and replace it with a Quran before giving it to the kids, Samaritan's purse would still use them?

If not, there are strings attached.

 

[taylor3297]

You are not doing any research on this operation if that is your view. There are many christian organizations that give without strings this is not one.

I guess talking to people I know who volunteer in the warehouse and actually go on the trips to deliver the boxes, isn't anyway to get reliable information.

I guess I just need to believe what everyone else here is saying instead.

 

[taylor3297]

So if an organization chose to take out the pamphlet and replace it with a Quran before giving it to the kids, Samaritan's purse would still use them?

If not, there are strings attached.

Well it would have to be replaced once the box was received in the other country and since the folks handing out the boxes are usually volunteers for the founding organization I doubt that would happen.

Again, when I say no strings attached it is the receiver not the giver. So the receiver doesn't have to do anything in return for getting the box, and don't have to read the book in the box whether it is the book mentioned or the Quran.

 

[hercamore]

Hi, I was just filling my shoe box before I came on the dis today and found this thread!

The churches of SE MN heavily support this organization with hundreds of shoe boxes collected and driven up to the Minneapolis distribution center each Nov.

I will try to track my box this year.



herc

 

[laura.anne]

I'm flabbergasted by some of the comments here.

Thank you to those who want to help with this awesome charity.

All I can think about are the shelters, food pantries and other (MANY) good things the churches in my area do.

You will never (ever ever ever) find someone who believes EVERYTHING you believe. All those "someones" are a part of different businesses, churches, charities, etc.

By your statements, we should just never donate to anything or buy from any business.

I suppose I shouldn't buy popcorn from the boy scouts because a boy scout was denied his Eagle Award for being gay. Clearly that means the whole organization is tainted and they are therefore indoctrinating the children to be anti-gay on our donations.

The Catholic church in the area that feeds, clothes and shelters thousands of locals every winter- clearly they are only out for donations so they can turn around and indoctrinate each person that comes through the doors with all their "strings attached" for the needs they are caring for.

I don't hear anyone say- Wait, you're a church? Then I'd rather be cold and hungry then to hear "God Bless You". I'd rather not accept money to pay my heating bill if I have to look at that Christian flyer that you handed me.

That is all I'm saying on the topic and on this site.

That doesn't make any sense. The purpose of the Boy Scouts is not to deny boys Eagle Awards for being gay. It may be something they do, but it's not their purpose in existing. The purpose of OCC is to convert kids to Christianity through giving them gifts, or to put it another way, to give kids gifts and use that as an opportunity to convert them to Christianity. A lot of these kids live in parts of the world where their indigenous cultures have already been threatened for 100s of years, including their religion. So when someone comes in and a) brings them gifts and basic things that they don't get on a regular basis and b) tells them about Jesus in doing so, it just seems deceitful to me, like those children's indigenous cultures are being further eroded. So, to me, as someone who has donated to OCC in the past, I understand where you are coming from, but what OCC does is different from when I donate to a women's shelter through my church. There is a lot more at stake with programs like this IMO.

 

[momto2girls]

Thanks, OP! This sounds great. I was just talking to my girls today about what we should contribute to this holiday season, and this sounds like it will be perfect.

 

[sissy_ib]

I'm flabbergasted by some of the comments here.

Thank you to those who want to help with this awesome charity.

All I can think about are the shelters, food pantries and other (MANY) good things the churches in my area do.

You will never (ever ever ever) find someone who believes EVERYTHING you believe. All those "someones" are a part of different businesses, churches, charities, etc.

By your statements, we should just never donate to anything or buy from any business.

I suppose I shouldn't buy popcorn from the boy scouts because a boy scout was denied his Eagle Award for being gay. Clearly that means the whole organization is tainted and they are therefore indoctrinating the children to be anti-gay on our donations.

The Catholic church in the area that feeds, clothes and shelters thousands of locals every winter- clearly they are only out for donations so they can turn around and indoctrinate each person that comes through the doors with all their "strings attached" for the needs they are caring for.

I don't hear anyone say- Wait, you're a church? Then I'd rather be cold and hungry then to hear "God Bless You". I'd rather not accept money to pay my heating bill if I have to look at that Christian flyer that you handed me.

That is all I'm saying on the topic and on this site.

I don't understand this attitude. There are literally hundreds of organizations out there that help needy children. Everyone who wants to donate needs to take a good look at the organizations they are interested in to see if it is something they want to support. There is NOTHING wrong with that. You feel this is the best for you but others feel differently and chose to support other operations. Again, NOTHING wrong with that.

 

[SaraJayne]

I'm flabbergasted by some of the comments here.

Thank you to those who want to help with this awesome charity.

All I can think about are the shelters, food pantries and other (MANY) good things the churches in my area do.

You will never (ever ever ever) find someone who believes EVERYTHING you believe. All those "someones" are a part of different businesses, churches, charities, etc.

By your statements, we should just never donate to anything or buy from any business.

I suppose I shouldn't buy popcorn from the boy scouts because a boy scout was denied his Eagle Award for being gay. Clearly that means the whole organization is tainted and they are therefore indoctrinating the children to be anti-gay on our donations.

The Catholic church in the area that feeds, clothes and shelters thousands of locals every winter- clearly they are only out for donations so they can turn around and indoctrinate each person that comes through the doors with all their "strings attached" for the needs they are caring for.

I don't hear anyone say- Wait, you're a church? Then I'd rather be cold and hungry then to hear "God Bless You". I'd rather not accept money to pay my heating bill if I have to look at that Christian flyer that you handed me.

That is all I'm saying on the topic and on this site.

You are correct- I do not support the BSA or the catholic church.

 

[traviesojmt]

I worked in the distribution center in Atlanta last year. It was an awesome experience. I met a young girl from Russia recently who received a box when she was a child. She brought us all to tears. She lived in an orphanage in Russia and had never received a gift before. The thought that someone would send her a present was foreign to her. She said that words could never express the impact that the Shoebox had on her life.

In lieu of buying each other gifts, my DD9 and DS15 have a tradition of spending the money that they would have spent on each other to fill a shoebox. I suggested it one year and they chose to continue it. They really enjoy shopping for the items in the box.