Operation Christmas Boxes 2022

The holiday season is fast approaching and it gives us great pleasure to launch our traditional Lake Aid Christmas Boxes Collection, sharing a bit of Christmas sparkle with children in need in the Annecy region.

Depending on their age and situation, each child will receive a Christmas gift box or a gift voucher to use in many stores, all thanks to you.


WHERE AND WHEN?

This year, our volunteers will hold 15 collection points between 5th and 10th December to collect your boxes, filled with toys, games, school supplies, toiletries and more:

Donations towards gift vouchers are online.

HOW DOES IT WORK ?

SIGN UP online here: choose a child (kept anonymous but we provide age and gender F/M), enter your name and email and select collection point. Make sure to note your box number.

IF YOU SELECTED A CHRISTMAS BOX :

  1. FILL A BOX (eg. shoe box) with small gifts, tailoring content to the child’s age and gender, see our guidelines below *.  Wrap the box in festive paper and clearly mark the box number
  2. DROP IT OFF AT YOUR COLLECTION POINT at the specified times. We will deliver the boxes to the children in time for Christmas.

IF YOU SELECTED A GIFT VOUCHER (Ado – carte cadeaux):

MAKE AN ONLINE DONATION of 25 euros per voucher to Lake Aid on HelloAsso here. Lake Aid volunteers will buy, wrap and deliver the gift vouchers.

* Box content guidelines

Not more than 20 to 30 euros per box, no bigger than a shoe box

Items NOT TO INCLUDE PLEASE:

Money, medication, toys that require batteries, war toys, English board games or books, opened food items, home-made food, damaged or dirty items. 

Some suggestions:

0-1 year olds: Hat/mittens, baby products, nappies, soft toy, teething toy, small blanket, warm clothing

2-12 year olds: Biscuits, small cars, doll, bubbles, lego, toy animal, skipping rope, puzzle, bouncy ball, playmobil, playdoh, slime, popit), coloured pens and pencils, notebooks, pencil sharpener, eraser, toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo, shower gel

Unaccompanied minors (MNA) 13-18 year olds: Prefer savoury snacks, no need for basic hygiene products. This may well be the only gift they receive this year. Ideas include: perfume/cologne, moisturiser, hair products, beanie hat, socks, t-shirt, gloves, photo frame, notebook, magazine, headphones, make-up, stationery, phone accessories…