Where should I go for updates?
We don't want to bombard you with emails, so please like and follow us on Facebook here. We will have some regular updates, and will post there when we send any important emails out.
I really want to get started on my shoebox, when will you be matching us up?
As early as possible. Sometimes we get names as late as early November, but we are aiming for late September, which should give everyone about a month to fill up their
shoebox and get it to a local Drop Off Location. Keep an eye out on our FB page here and look out for an email from Gisborne Shoebox Christmas around that time.
What should I put in my shoebox?
This is all about surprising and delighting children, so
think about gifts that will make a kid go "Awesome!". Think quality over
quantity; there is no need to fill all the space in your shoebox. If
you have kids, think about what they would like, and go with your heart.
How much do I spend on my shoebox?
There are no hard and fast rules around price, but a good
guideline is around $20-$30. If you want to spend a little bit more,
that is fine, but you don't have to break the bank. If you shop smart,
there are some great bargains around.
Do you have examples of shoeboxes?
We will be putting some examples up on our FB page here
to help get the creative juices flowing. You can also check out what the city mice are doing at Auckland Shoebox Christmas and Wellington Shoebox Christmas for inspiration. If you've got ideas, or want to share what you've put in your boxes, we'd love for you to share them on our FB page!
Is there anything I shouldn't put in my shoebox?
Great question. We don't want to put too many rules on what to buy, but here are a few guidelines.
Please steer clear of food items, as some of the kids may have allergies. We would prefer if you didn't include money or gift vouchers, as we want kids to have the surprise and delight of opening a gift. A good guideline is to call on your inner child, and think about what you would like if you were a kid.
On a practical note, keep in mind that some families may not be able to stretch their budget to constantly replacing batteries for kids' toys.
Please steer clear of food items, as some of the kids may have allergies. We would prefer if you didn't include money or gift vouchers, as we want kids to have the surprise and delight of opening a gift. A good guideline is to call on your inner child, and think about what you would like if you were a kid.
On a practical note, keep in mind that some families may not be able to stretch their budget to constantly replacing batteries for kids' toys.
Is it possible to be matched with a kid who is the same age as mine?
We get asked this all the time - it can make things a lot
easier when you're buying in your area of expertise :) If you've signed
up for 2017, you should have received an email with a link to a form
from us. From there, you can choose the age range you would prefer to
buy for, but it all depends on the ages of the cool kiwi kids who end up
on our lists. We can't guarantee you'll be matched with your preferred
age range, for that reason, but we'll definitely do our best!
I deleted my signup email - how can I get in touch with you?
Where are your drop off points?
Our Drop Off Points for 2017 will be confirmed and posted on
this page and our fb page later this year. Follow us on Facebook to stay
in the loop!
How do I know which drop off point to go to?
Once we've matched you up with a lucky kiwi kid, we'll let
you know the address of the drop off points, and the dates they will be
open.You can go to any of them, as long as your shoebox(es) are labelled correctly.
P.S. We'll tell you how to label them when we match you up.
P.S. We'll tell you how to label them when we match you up.
I signed up - why haven't I had an email from you?
If you signed up, you should have received an email with the subject line: Gisborne Shoebox Christmas - Opt In Email. Did you click the confirmation button in that email? Yes? Have you checked your spam / junk mail folders? Yes? Then we might have messed something up at our end. Please drop me a
line here or message us on FB here and we'll get it sorted.
I can't open the link in your email.
I won an iPhone/Xbox/PS/Galaxy/other crazy expensive thing, and I don't want it. Can I give that to my kiwi kid?
That's the generous kiwi spirit we all know and love, but we
suggest that you don't. Here's our thinking: your small kiwi mate is
going to take their shoebox home and open it in front of their friends,
family, and most of all - siblings. If one brother gets a phone, and one
brother gets a t-shirt, that Christmas cheer might get a little less
cheery. Think about how stink you'd feel if you were the t-shirt getting
sibling.
Could we suggest selling the fancy toy and using the proceeds to shop for 20 Gisborne Shoeboxes? :) :)
Could we suggest selling the fancy toy and using the proceeds to shop for 20 Gisborne Shoeboxes? :) :)
I don't live in Gisborne, can I still participate?
Sure! As long as you can get your shoebox of goodness to one
of our Gisborne drop off points by the delivery date, you can
participate from anywhere. If you live in Auckland, you can support Auckland Shoebox Christmas by contacting Sam here. And, if you live in Wellington you can support
the original Wellington Shoebox Christmas by contacting Pera here.
I signed up but my circumstances have changed. Can I cancel?
These things happen - we have absolutely no hard feelings.
The aim of this initiative is to add more joy at Christmas, not more
stress! Just get in touch with me here or message us on FB here
and let us know. It's so important to tell us, so we can be prepared
ahead of time and don't have any kids disappointed on the day. Hopefully
we'll hear from you again in the future :)
Where do you find kids who might need a Christmas shoebox?
Our lists come to us from local primary & intermediate schools across Gisborne.
Is it possible to find out what my kid's interests are, so I can buy things they are into?
Great thinking, fellow elf! We are making this a part of our initiative in 2017.
Do I wrap the shoebox, or do I wrap the presents inside the shoebox?
You wrap the shoebox. Once it's wrapped, you also label it
with your kid's GROUP name, their first name, gender and age, and your first name.
