Links to photos etc

Just one more thing!

here are the links to all the photos from the campaign, in case you missed any.
You can download them directly from the picasa site if you follow the link.


https://picasaweb.google.com/103588759400401245450/Week1#

https://picasaweb.google.com/103588759400401245450/Week2#

https://picasaweb.google.com/103588759400401245450/Week3#

https://picasaweb.google.com/103588759400401245450/ContainerDay#

https://picasaweb.google.com/103588759400401245450/LastDayLorryDay#


And just to keep us going until next year here are a couple of links to the OCC videos, that are so
inspirational. I encourage you to share them with friends and family.

http://www.youtube.com/user/SamaritansPurseTV?blend=21&ob=5#p/u/0/ekFNFfpWlyY

http://www.youtube.com/user/SamaritansPurseTV#p/u/14/FlC_sHK4mjs

And that really is all......for now!

Day 17 - From Guildford to the Ukraine (and Serbia) with love

And so with the final shoebox packed into a carton, the last space on the lorry filled, the last table collapsed and the last chair stacked, the lorry disappeared round the corner and the warehouse was empty again.
But let's not be too sad, it was a great day, there are lots of photos and most importantly we get to do it all again next year!!! (and for those "lucky" few, they can return on Monday and load the remaining cartons for Serbia.!)



Oh and the final total, do you really want to know????   Do you think we beat last year?????

YES!!!!  a truly record beating 16, 326 boxes !

It was also Ted's naming day, and you may remember that The Bear Garden, who had donated him, had chosen his names and these names were also guessed by our volunteers for a small donation.  The announcement came at coffee time.

So please let me introduce you to

Crispin Viktor Roman

Wendy had guessed the name Crispin and Anne had guessed Viktor.  Roman was one of the few names not selected so Elizabeth helped out there.

So happily Ted can now apply for his passport and get himself some personalised luggage, ready for his trip to Kyrgyzstan in March.

Where has it all gone?

Everyhone has a hand in the last carton

The rest of the morning was spent packing the last cartons, packing up, tidying and returning the warehouse to its more natural empty look.




 Then at 12:00 noon exactly, the lorry and its driver, who had been patiently waiting since yesterday afternoon, drove into the warehouse and loading commenced. It was a similar pattern to last week's container loading except the lorry held an extra 300+ cartons, so muscles were definitely tiring at the end. When the doors closed an incredible 10,511 shoeboxes were on board, approximately half from the Esher warehouse and half from Guildford.

Those who don't load, knit!!

An impressive human chain

Ted can't miss a photo opportunity!

From Guildford to the Ukraine

Once loaded, another warehouse tradition could take place - the giving of a gift to the driver. The volunteers recognise that often the lorry drivers are local to the destination country and may themselves live in under-privileged conditions. As such, a collection of various non-perishable food items is made over the 3 weeks, and is given to the driver for his family and community. This year was no exception and a large box and hamper were handed over. The driver could speak very little English but he was genuinely touched by the gift and indicated that he had a family of two children back at home.

So, with the lorry dispatched and the warehouse cleared apart from the remaining cartons for Serbia, where could Ted, sorry Crispin, be?  - already taking his first steps in his journey to Kyrgyztsan as he left the warehouse with Christine. Christine, we're looking forward to future instalments of his journey!









And so this blog has come to an end, a really big thank you to everyone who has read it, passed it on, participated in it, put up with the questions and co-operated with all the photos. It's been a wonderful three weeks and I hope the blog has captured some of the life of the warehouse community. If it has encouraged more people to get involved, at any level, that is wonderful; but we wouldn't be here at all if it wasn't for the shoeboxes and the children that so desperately need to receive them -  so please, please, spread the word and let's smash that shoebox record next year!

See you in 2012 !

Day 16 - the end (sadly) is in sight

And so it had to happen. The shoebox stream that had been in flood at times became a trickle. The vans went out on their last scheduled collections or in search of any late arriving boxes. But this did not mean that the warehouse was quiet and everyone stopped for a long tea break. Oh no, not at all!!

In the morning, an improptu knit and natter session started up as volunteers finished off those last bits of sewing and knitting, for ever boosting the filler numbers.

There was also a very healthy shoebox covering school in preparation for the possibility of making up our own shoeboxes with the remaining fillers.

The warehouse "rule" is that we will make up and send as many shoeboxes as possible, at the end of the campaign, providing that we have a) the correct type of fillers for a fair box and b) enough donated money to cover the transport of the shoeboxes.

So everyone was busy until after lunch and when the final calculations of all the donated money were done, we were amazed that we were able to make up an extra 142 boxes!!! Fantastic!

Heather was put in charge of empty shoebox allocation to ensure that everyone knew what they were making up, (2-4 year old boxes first then 10-14s) - single file please, and form an orderly queue!

This went really well with everyone making good use of all the remaining fillers, and glad to have an opportunity to send some of the beautiful items that still remained on the tables.

Today's volunteer is a familiar face to many as he is the caretaker at St Saviour's Church. Mike Ellis is a dedicated volunteer, giving up one week of his holiday each year to come to the warehouse. He normally times it for the last week of the campaign which generally means he is on hand to help with the loading the lorry. And tomorrow will be no exception! But even if there isn't a lorry in sight Mike is more than happy to help out in whatever way he can. For him OCC is another expression of his Christian faith and a way he can put service into practice every day. Great to see you again Mike, we'll definitely need you tomorrow!

So Ted, where do we find you on the last night in the warehouse? In the kitchen? On the filler table? No, just sitting quietly and studying the list of possible bear names. For tomorrow is a "beary" special day, as we'll all find out what Ted's real name is going to be.

See you tomorrow!

Day 15 - so busy we finished early!

Have I mentioned recently, that it's been busy at the warehouse ??



Well, today was no exception and quite possibly we benefited from the strike action with a few extra volunteers joining us. Here's a few "busy warehouse" photos to set the scene.

We're not quite finished yet, but a few words of thanks are due - first thank you to everyone who has brought in fillers over the last few days, the response has been great and it's meant that we have been able to continue sending out the fair boxes that we all desire.
Also thank you to all those people who have wrapped boxes throughout the last 3 weeks.  A good supply of wrapped boxes is required for those boxes which arrive uncovered, completely wrapped or need re-wrapping after the donation or tracking label has been removed.


As the weeks have progressed our supply of "easily-packed-in-a-shoebox" soft toys has understandably run down and we're finding ourselves left with the "can-be-packed-if-squashed-and-someone-holds-the lid" category. Some naturally, are more squashable than others and some unfortunately, just won't go.  Here's Vanessa with the Orang-u-tang that did and Wendy with the lamb that didn't (but don't worry he's found himself a new home on Wendy's sofa!) For those lovable but large creatures, another homing option is our sales table, the proceeds of which go towards the transport of the shoeboxes.



Talking of soft toys, they are so important to the children who receive the shoeboxes that they deserve their own filler of the day spot. From tiny keychain animals to fluffy pink mice, from large teddies to soft baby dolls, we accept them all, but on the strict proviso that they are clean and look new. In fact experience has shown that the vast majority of soft toys survive and really benefit from a dip in the washing machine, a day in the airing cupboard, a brush up and a new ribbon or bow. They don't have to be expensive, car boot sales are great hunting grounds. But what is saved in money should be spent in time, to get these furry friends as good as they can possibly be. For theirs is a very special job.

One role that hasn't been covered yet on the blog is Carolyn's role of Area Co-ordinator / Day-to-day Warehouse Manager. On paper, it may look like a practical based organisational role co-ordinating with head office, volunteers, drivers, pick-up points and other warehouses, but that only covers a small part of what Carolyn actually does. Carolyn's real strength comes from her strong faith and leadership style, a style that she has developed over the years. She aims (and we believe, succeeds) to make everyone feel welcome, included and accepted for whatever skills, talents and abilities that they have. Her passion is obvious to all through her thrice daily talks at break times, and her desire is to give these children, in the remotest parts of forgotten lands, a voice that can be heard and listened to. But just as the children far away benefit from the charity, Carolyn is aware of the influence through God's power that the warehouse operation has in its own right to touch people's lives, whether Christian or not; part of her enjoyment is sharing the journey with an ever growing OCC community.




          Different sides of Carolyn's job -
        administration, presenting
          and team work

And finally, we have our volunteer from Saturday who didn't escape the camera today. Mel Sneller is an active member of St Saviours Church and has been involved with shoeboxes for a number of years. It is her 4th year at the warehouse and she regularly comes down throughout the three weeks, helping out with training, sorting and, of course, checking. Like many of us, she admits to withdrawal symptoms once the campaign is over, but consoles herself with collecting filler items throughout the year. Mel continues to be inspired by the stories from the distribution trips and says her motivation is knowing that she is helping to bring love and joy to so many needy children.

Mel at the checking table

And Ted? Well, having been seen in most areas and had his paws if not his nose in most activities, he was found today, happily checking boxes on the table with June. Good work Ted, not many to go now!

See you tomorrow!

Day 14 - 15,000 and rising!

Another day, another wonderful eclectic mix of shoeboxes, donations, visitors and volunteers. There were beautifully decorated boxes, unusual filler items, imaginative shoebox contents and much much more

- oh and we even hit the 15,000 shoeboxes received mark !!

Joining in as volunteers today were a group from GSK, Weybridge, many of whom are involved in the development and testing of new toothpastes. And they didn't come empty handed! They brought with them several boxes of toothpaste and toothbrushes that they had been carefully putting to one side throughout the year. The group, which included, Carol, Louisa, Louisa, Michelle, Emma, Pavan and Siobhan all came as part of GSK's charity day initiative. Carol and Louisa have been coming for about the last 5 years and always look forward to their shoebox day. For the others, it was their first but maybe not their last experience!   They all agreed that it is a great reality check at this time of year to focus on children who are much less fortunate than those from this country, and by doing something so simple it can mean so much. Thanks for all your help girls and we look forward to seeing you all next year! 


Another group on a return visit were the visitors from Cedar Court Care Home, Cranleigh. (Now dedicated blog readers may even spot a couple of faces from an earlier posting of the group's end of year display). Today, Tony, Joyce, Elizabeth and Edna came with Michael, Lisa, Josie and Chris to see this year's warehouse in operation. After a brief tour, our volunteers Wendy and Joan showed the group what is involved in checking a shoebox and the group were able to see several boxes being sealed up, next to be opened by the children overseas. It was great for the Cedar Court knitters to see where their items go and feel that they are a valuable part of the process.


Our final visitors of the day came from Cranleigh School. The girls came to drop off their boxes and explore the warehouse operation. We hope they enjoyed their tour and go back to spread the word amongst their friends and families.





We hear many stories from the distribution teams about how important these shoeboxes are in the lives of the children but it's even more amazing when you hear a story first-hand from someone who actually received a shoebox as a child. At St Mary of Bethany Church last Sunday, the congregation had gathered for their shoebox service and they heard from Alex, a young Romanian adult tell of how he had received a shoebox as a teenager. Alex talked about how he had felt at being cared for by strangers from another country and how, when he had decided to work abroad had immediately decided to come to England as it had been the country that had sent him the gift of love 10 years previously. Many at the service were moved by his story and how through the power of God, one shoebox had transformed the life of a child.

Size can matter when you are trying to be fair!

Whilst so many of the shoeboxes are beautifully wrapped and filled, there are occasionally a few boxes that do not meet our criteria of being a fair box. That is, it would not be fair to give the box to a child as it is deficient in one way or another.  We want every child to feel loved when they receive the box and not to feel that they have received something sub-standard. This might just be that it has not been covered, or that the box is very small. Sometimes there is only one gift inside or there is only one type of gift. All these shoeboxes are examples of "problem boxes" or boxes that need special attention. To help us process these efficiently, the boxes are removed from the usual checking process and  Ian and Diane focus on sending them out as fair as any other box. They also specialise in finding a way of including that large but ideally suited item, of fitting everything else around it. Hopefully with their help, every box that leaves our warehouse is truly a fair box.

So another busy day with lots of visitors, and Ted understandably took time out from his duties to do some entertaining, or was it the jammie dodgers he'd spotted??

See you tomorrow!

Day 13 - Mildly busy!!!

What do you call a day where there were over 1200 boxes delivered, 2 van loads of cartonned boxes collected and stored, 2 school visits including a Special Needs school, a film crew working on next year's OCC DVD, several new volunteers, lots of bags of donations, and specially made OCC cup-cakes for coffee time??

Answer - just another day at the GU area warehouse!!



The day began with a visit from St Nicholas School, when 3 parents and their children came with the school's shoeboxes and had a tour of the warehouse.



Carolyn & Jenny with the Henry Tyndale students



Shortly after, the minibus arrived from Henry Tyndale School and the students, each with Special Needs, helped unload their shoeboxes onto the ever growing pile of unchecked boxes. The students were very proud to show all the things they had put in their boxes and several of our volunteers spent time with them individually and gave them a short tour.



Part of the joy in receiving the donated filler items, is hearing the stories behind the donations and how people have come to give so generously. Some people explain their connections with various organisations that have, in turn, given generously. Others tell of buying regularly throughout the year and building up stock just for the 3 week campaign. Often the donors are aware of the ideal items for a shoebox and come with loaded bags of just the right items, often at just the right time. And occasionally, a story is simply a miracle, like this one.

As a result of a mild stroke the friend of one of our volunteers had lost most of the use of her hands, and physiotherapy was having little effect. It was suggested to her that knitting may help, and despite struggling at first, she persevered and amazingly has just donated 126 hats that she has made. Her hands are so improved that she now knits regularly, can make hats at the rate of one a day and delights in being able to help and be useful.

Today's filler also has a story behind it. These lovely barbie dolls were beautifully dressed by a close friend of another of our volunteers. This lady particularly enjoyed knitting the clothes with such detail and dressing them in co-ordinating outfits. Sadly, she has since passed away, but it is lovely to think that her legacy of so many wonderful dolls will be treasured by the children who receive them.

It is truly amazing how this campaign touches so many lives and not just the lives of the children and families living abroad.



OCC cupcakes - yum!



Time for a coffee break? - How about a delicious cupcake decorated in Christmas colours of gold, silver, red or green and they really are as tasty as they look. Many thanks Lynne - (and for all cupcake fans out there Lynne does have her own business, so place your orders now!)

Today's volunteer hopefully did not miss out on the cupcakes, as he was out in the van collecting boxes this morning. Richard Paxton has been volunteering at the warehouse for 3 years now, although he had given shoeboxes for many years through his work. Previously, he has helped with packing the cartons and this year has added van driving to his repertoire. This, he says, is really rewarding as it is lovely to visit so many schools and churches where the local children have been involved in giving to children far away. For him, the fact that you can be involved with the campaign at so many levels is something that he finds really attractive and quite unique.

So with the warehouse in full swing, and with volunteers busy at every table, a team arrived from Harvest Church, Alton. They brought 500+ shoeboxes with them that had been donated at the weekend's services. And as a first for the GU warehouse, they also brought a film crew!

Next year's OCC DVD will follow the role a church can play in the overall campaign and the crew were filming the next stage of the journey for the church's shoeboxes. They will continue filming in the new year on a distribution trip to Swaziland, where Pastor Simon of Harvest Church is part of the team. It was great to have the film crew with us today and we'll certainly be watching next year's film very carefully to see who we can spot!

and Ted - did he get caught up with the idea of potential fame??? Not at all, he was helping his Kyrgyzstan travel mate Christine with banding up the coloured pencils. Well done Ted, good job!



Ted and Christine at work



See you tomorrow!

Day12 - Saturday once again

As Saturday rolled round again, the warehouse continued to be busy with its weekend recruits, both old, young and new. It was lovely to see so many of the weekend volunteers from last Saturday return to give us another day of their time. Especially so, as many arrived bearing gifts of filler items that they knew would be in short supply. One volunteer brought in a bag of handmade bags that were ideal as pencil cases, and a lady from Crawley brought in much needed colouring pencils, soap and almost as importantly some rather nice choccie biccies for coffee time!


We also welcomed a group from Merrow Scouts, both boys and girls who set to work checking and helping out in general.  As can sometimes happen, our supply of unchecked boxes ran dry mid afternoon, but there were plenty of other jobs to keep everyone busy. But never fear! Supplies will be back on Monday as the vans will be out again and have even been out this weekend collecting from various churches. Our job is not over yet!!

The blog has featured several different knitted items over the last few weeks and today's is another variation on a theme. Small knitted purses and bags are ideal to include in the boxes as they easily fit in to small corners and spaces. They are also very versatile and can contain anything from jewelry to crayons, from pencils to tissues, and who's to say what other uses they can have in the child's hands. These brightly coloured knitted bags start life as tissue holders but I'm sure they will have a long life holding many other treasures in the future.




Unfortunately the blog wasn't quick enough to snap a photo of today's volunteer so they will be held over till tomorrow, when normal service resumes again.


Ted, however, was trying his hand at selling the official OCC calendars. Unfortunately he wasn't too successful and possibly should take some tips from Lord Sugar of Apprentice fame to improve his sales technique. Never mind Ted, we can't all be good at everything!!


So please, if you are out and about yourself, this weekend and can spare us a few filler items of hats, soap, pens, pencils etc we would be really grateful!!

See you on Monday!