Charity shoe box gift collection billed as world's largest Chri...

Terry Johnson of Boulder Creek doesn't mind being just a cog in the Operation Christmas Child machine.

[Beware]

My children participated in this program several years ago. We stopped after my then 9 year old son recieved a thank you note & a picture from the recipiant a 16 year old girl in the Phillipines. The note was asking my son to contact her. Not just to get to know each other but to MOVE here. Yes! Move here! She included pictures of not just herself but her older sister too! I must say the clothing they both wore was much nicer than anything we own! The pictures looked like professional modeling pictures! We wern't very pleased. We went to SCBC with the letter etc it was basically laughed off. I didn't find it humorous. Never donated to them again.

[Right on Time]

The Dollar Tree has clear plastic shoeboxes for $1 and almost everything to fill it with. I got mine yesterday, bought my goodies, headed over to Ross to buy a couple little cute clothing pieces to finish it off and will be delivering mine to SCBC this morning. This is a very fun service project that fills the hearts and hands of children all over the world. Get involved, won't you?

[Right on Time]

Oh, and "Beware" is describing something completely unlikely. First of all, Beware should not have allowed her son to include their home address in any note. That was irresponsible. Second, OCC doesn't deliver notes with personal addresses on them. If it happened to her as she writes, it was a mistake, and one that should not dissuade people from giving to needy children.
Sounds like "Beware" needs a heart adjustment.

[Beware]

Right on Time wrote:

Oh, and "Beware" is describing something completely unlikely. First of all, Beware should not have allowed her son to include their home address in any note. That was irresponsible. Second, OCC doesn't deliver notes with personal addresses on them. If it happened to her as she writes, it was a mistake, and one that should not dissuade people from giving to needy children.
Sounds like "Beware" needs a heart adjustment.

I never implied I don't donate! I do! Several organizations! Why would you 'assume' something like that? It must be because it's Sunday & you haven't gone to SCBC yet? Not real nice. The article clearly states that some times the child writes back a PERSONAL thank you! That is why we gave our address! Your child was obviously not solicited like mine was! It was not an isolated incident thru SCBC! The following year we participated in adopting a family for the holidays. We bought a pre cooked turkey dinner with all the fixings! The particular family had 4 children. We purchased gifts for all of the kids. My husband chose to deliver everything in person. Upon arrival he was very upset about the living conditions of this poor family so he gave them $500.00 to help fix a leaky roof. Somehow the couple found out our names.... Then they got a hold of our phome #. Then they began calling us to borrow $$$??? It got so out of hand we had to change our phone #. I don't doubt that Samaritans Purse is a good organization. I also think adopting a family for the holidays is a good organization. However if SCBC acts as the middle man? They should assume some responsability for outcomes. Responsability would be following up on things. Not brushing it under the rug (like you just did)

[Sam Spade _ Aptos 1944]

Beware wrote:

<quoted text>a PERSONAL thank you! That is why we gave our address! My husband chose to deliver everything in person.

Read your words. You obviously can't give without getting personally involved.

[Agree With You]

Beware wrote:

<quoted text>I never implied I don't donate! I do! Several organizations! Why would you 'assume' something like that? It must be because it's Sunday & you haven't gone to SCBC yet? Not real nice. The article clearly states that some times the child writes back a PERSONAL thank you! That is why we gave our address! Your child was obviously not solicited like mine was! It was not an isolated incident thru SCBC! The following year we participated in adopting a family for the holidays. We bought a pre cooked turkey dinner with all the fixings! The particular family had 4 children. We purchased gifts for all of the kids. My husband chose to deliver everything in person. Upon arrival he was very upset about the living conditions of this poor family so he gave them $500.00 to help fix a leaky roof. Somehow the couple found out our names.... Then they got a hold of our phome #. Then they began calling us to borrow $$$??? It got so out of hand we had to change our phone #. I don't doubt that Samaritans Purse is a good organization. I also think adopting a family for the holidays is a good organization. However if SCBC acts as the middle man? They should assume some responsability for outcomes. Responsability would be following up on things. Not brushing it under the rug (like you just did)

You are right, Beware. The brochure DOES state that you can include a personal note if you want the possibility of the child writing to you. This would mean giving them some sort of mailing address. So the criticism of you is completely offbase. Unfortunately, life is desparate for the poor in the Phillipines. You either are rich or poor there - no middle class. I am sure the family was hoping for an immigration connection of some kind. This does not, however, diminish the heartfelt intention with which you sent your box. It seems you were right in alerting SCBC to this situation and it is unfortunate that your concerns were dismissed. I have heard of this kind of response before at SCBC when an uncomfortable situation comes up. Keep giving, don´t let Satan steal your joy!!

[Bible Reading Time]

Right on Time wrote:

Oh, and "Beware" is describing something completely unlikely. First of all, Beware should not have allowed her son to include their home address in any note. That was irresponsible. Second, OCC doesn't deliver notes with personal addresses on them. If it happened to her as she writes, it was a mistake, and one that should not dissuade people from giving to needy children.
Sounds like "Beware" needs a heart adjustment.

Judge not lest ye be judged.

[good morning]

Beware wrote:

My children participated in this program several years ago. We stopped after my then 9 year old son recieved a thank you note & a picture from the recipiant a 16 year old girl in the Phillipines. The note was asking my son to contact her. Not just to get to know each other but to MOVE here. Yes! Move here! She included pictures of not just herself but her older sister too! I must say the clothing they both wore was much nicer than anything we own! The pictures looked like professional modeling pictures! We wern't very pleased. We went to SCBC with the letter etc it was basically laughed off. I didn't find it humorous. Never donated to them again.

Dear Beware: You cannot fairly judge an entire worldwide helpful organization like Samaritan's Purse so poorly because you received a picture from a girl. Yes, I can imagine it was not cool of her to do that, but that was her fault not SP's. People do crazy things for whatever reason. SP did it's job, getting a shoe box filled with spirit to someone who needed it. What happened after that shouldn't be dumped on SP. I agree, they should not have laughed it off, you have a right to be upset about that. But overall SP does a wonderful job in an area where nobody else cares to help.