Description:

Operation Shoebox is a fantastic scheme which allows people the opportunity to make life a little easier for the troops fighting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and in February it comes to the Walnuts Shopping Centre in Orpington. 

Visitors to the shopping centre are being asked to fill up shoe boxes with everyday essentials (full list below) which will then be sent over to our service men and women.  These are basic items that people take for granted in the comfort of the UK, but which could make all the difference.  As well as the items in the boxes, contributors are being asked to tape a £2 donation the outside of the boxes to go towards the purchase of a £5000 container which will be used to ship the boxes out to the troops.  Personal messages are also encouraged to be included in the boxes.

The target for The Walnuts is 200 boxes by 21^st February, when the campaign is scheduled to end.   Shoe boxes, both filled and unfilled should be dropped off at the shopping centre in the Centre Management Suite, for the care of Karen Smith. 

The following items are required:

New packs of...

Mp3 players -electronic games
Cotton boxer shorts, cotton knickers, cotton sports socks (all sizes)
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Lip salve
Small tins of Vaseline (green and yellow)
Shaving oils, shaving gels/creams (no aerosols) 
Disposable razors
Stick/roll-on deodorants (unperfumed)
Small packs of wet wipes
Small baby powder
Foot powder
Shower gels and shampoo sachets
Panty liners and tampons
Pot Noodles, Super Noodles, curry powder
Small tubes of mustard, tubes of condensed milk
Small variety boxes of cereal packs
Small tins of macaroni cheese, ravioli etc.
Cup-a-soups
Lunchbox sizes of:
Cheddar biscuits, Jammy Dodgers, chocolate chip cookies
All varieties of Pringles (large or small packs)
Tea bags (all types including fruit teas), coffee sachets (all types)
Hot chocolate sachets, Ovaltine sachets
Boiled sweets (all types)
Starburst fruit chews
Chewing gum
Travel size board games, pens (all types) 
Flip flops

Marmite sachets
Cereal bars
Fruit bags or boxes (dried)
Hair scrunchies
Nail boards
Combs
Small hand body lotions
DVDs or CDs computer games wII ,xbox etc

Also, due to the cold the following items are also greatly appreciated:

Heat packs or compacts (not electric & should be a good size to travel with)

Extra socks

Gloves (Tough, not cute and fuzzy please!)

Undershirts / t-shirts

Hats (Please be aware of the approved colour for whatever service branch you send to.) you are safe with black!

Coffee/ Tea/ Hot Chocolate Mixes