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Christmas Box Appeal

Bring joy to a life this Christmas

A Christmas box is a unique present put together by you, and donated via House of Opportunity and its partners to a marginalised child, woman or man living in poverty in Southeast Europe.

You can join in with the Christmas Box Appeal in a number of different ways – making presents; organising a campaign at your school, workplace, or church; donating items for boxes; volunteering to help us sort & pack boxes; donating money to help distribute the boxes.

Who will receive a Christmas Box?

Your Christmas boxes will go to children and adults in all kinds of circumstances, including abandoned children living in state care,  poor rural schools and kindergartens, women’s refuges, prisoner’s children, isolated or lonely elderly folk,  refugees and Roma children living in difficult conditions. Children like Elena…

How do Christmas Boxes help?

These presents show people who have been rejected or are living in poverty that they are loved, and help us to build bridges with communities. Any surplus money generated by the appeal will help support our long-term projects – making a direct impact on the lives of at-risk children and teenagers.

Joining in with the Christmas Box Appeal

Individuals

Making a Christmas box is fun and really easy – just follow the instructions…

Schools

There are two ways your school can get involved – find out more…

Churches

Find out how your church could join in with the Christmas Box Appeal this year

Businesses & Community Groups

Find out how your colleagues or members could join in with this year’s appeal.

How can Christmas boxes help to
prevent modern slavery?

We ask for a donation of £4 per box to help cover the cost of transporting and distributing your presents. Any surplus is used to help our long-term projects, such as the House of Opportunity, which prevents slavery and transforms the lives of vulnerable care leavers.

But a commitment of just £4 a month from you could help us to do even more.

Find out more here.

Other ways to join in with the Christmas Box Appeal

Send us some extra items that we can put into the Christmas boxes

We need some items that we can use to help create boxes, or top up boxes that need a little extra. Donations of items in bulk will be very gratefully received. You can find a list of what we need below. Please get any extra items to us by the second Friday in November.

Volunteer with us: Check & pack Christmas boxes this November

Each box we receive needs to be checked and made ready for transport. If you, your friends, family or group would like to help, and you live near our sorting & packing depot in Salisbury, then we’d love to see you in November! Find out more below.

What if I am unable to make a Christmas box but would still like to contribute?

There is a lot of cost to get the boxes to Southeast Europe, and on to their ultimate recipients.  Any amount donated to help meet this cost will be very gratefully received. £4 will help cover the transport and distribution for one Christmas box.

Follow our Christmas box distribution team