Christmas Packages for a Children's Home – How to Organize a Drive and Ship Gifts Cheaply with Meest Post?

For most people, Christmas is a magical time, full of warmth and joy. However, for children in care facilities, this period can be difficult. It's when they might feel loneliness the most. By sending them a Christmas package, you're sending a signal that someone is thinking of them and cares. Find out what to give children of different ages and how to organize a gift drive step-by-step with Meest Post!

How to Choose a Children's Home for a Package Drive?

In Poland, there are about 1,300 care and educational facilities, housing around 17,500 children. You can find a full list of these places in public databases, available, for example, on the website domydziecka.org. It's best to start your search in a region that is close to you. This could be your hometown, where you live, or where you work. The facilities often have their own websites where they post information about their current needs.

Below you will find a sample list of children's homes you might consider when organizing a gift drive:

Children's Home in Liskówul. Ks. W. Blizińskiego 96, 62-850 LiskówChild Care Center in Skopanieul. Leśna 2, 39-451 SkopanieCare and Educational Facility No. 12 "Dom u Brzechwy"ul. Tarczyńska 27, 02-023 WarsawCare and Educational Facility in Supraślul. Piłsudskiego 17a, 16-030 SupraślFamily Children's Home No. 3 in Olsztynul. M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 9 lok. 5, 10-109 OlsztynCare and Educational Facility in Koninul. Kurpińskiego 3, 62-510 KoninChildren's Home in Kórnik-Bninul. Błażejewska 63, 62-035 KórnikComplex of Care and Educational Facilities "Dziecięcy Dom" in Wrocławul. Parkowa 2, 51-616 Wrocław

Remember, these are just for inspiration – before sending anything, be sure to contact the chosen facility, confirm their contact details, and verify the actual needs of the children living there.

What to Put in a Christmas Package for a Children's Home?

The contents of Christmas packages for children's homes should be adapted primarily to the age of the children. The package should include gifts for both toddlers and teenagers. You'll find examples of great gifts for children of different age groups in the table below:

For younger children (3 – 10 years):

• Stuffed animals and mascots (new)
• Small toys: dolls, toy cars, building blocks
• Board games for children (e.g., Monopoly Junior, Jungle Speed Kids)
• Puzzles with 100 – 500 pieces
• Coloring books, crayons, markers, drawing pads
• Picture books, fairy tales
• Figurines of popular characters

For teenagers (11 – 18 years):

• Wired or wireless headphones
• Power banks
• Electronic gadgets: LED lights, Bluetooth speakers
• Universal cosmetics (gels, shampoos, creams, deodorants)
• Thermal mugs, thermoses
• School backpacks, pencil cases
• Diaries, notebooks
• Young adult books, manga, comic books
• Sports accessories (balls, jump ropes, dumbbells)

Items for the entire facility:

• Party board games (Dixit, Activity, Monopoly)
• Sweets with a long shelf life
• Warm socks, hats, scarves (new)
• Hygiene products (soaps, toilet paper, tissues)
• Stationery items (notebooks, pens, paper pads)

When organizing a Christmas charity drive for a children's home, always follow these rules:

• Only put new items or items in perfect condition in the packages. Damaged, used, or incomplete items are not suitable for gifts.

• Avoid food items that are expired or have a short expiration date. Food must be completely safe and long-lasting.

• Do not add items to the packages that could be associated with violence, alcohol, or cigarettes. This also applies to games and books with inappropriate themes.

• Choose toys that are intuitive and easy to use. Avoid models that require complicated assembly or use of non-standard batteries.

• Before shopping, contact the facility and ask about any potential restrictions. Many children's homes have residents with allergies, special diets, or other individual needs.

• How to Organize a Package Drive?

  Christmas packages for children from a children's home bring double the joy. The residents of the facilities receive their dream gifts, and you can feel the satisfaction of doing a good deed. This type of drive usually involves choosing a specific institution, contacting them, creating a list of needs, making the purchases, and shipping the packages. However, the detailed process depends on whether you are organizing it with your company, parish, or with friends.

  See how to make a package for a children's home in four different scenarios:

  Scenario 1: Company Drive

  To get your company involved in Christmas aid:

  1. Propose the idea to the HR department or management.

  2. Choose a children's home and contact the facility.

  3. Agree on a budget with your boss and divide the shopping among teams.

  4. Organize a joint gift-wrapping session at the office (it's great for team building!).

  5. Ship all the packages through Meest Post.

  Scenario 2: School or Preschool Drive

  Organizing Christmas packages can be a wonderful lesson in empathy for children and teenagers:

  1. Present the idea to the school administration and the parent council.

  2. In agreement with the school, decide that, for example, one class is responsible for preparing one package.

  3. Organize a school fair or a collection for the purchases.

  4. Suggest a joint gift-wrapping session during class time and encourage children to include handmade Christmas cards in the packages.

  5. Register the shipments on the Meest Post website.

  Scenario 3: Parish or Community Drive

  You can organize a Christmas aid drive for a children's home with your parish or, for example, with your neighborhood community:

  1. Announce the initiative at church, on a Facebook group, or in a shared WhatsApp chat.

  2. Suggest that each family prepares, for instance, one small package or contributes to a large one.

  3. Choose a coordinator who will contact the children's home.

  4. Organize a get-together for wrapping presents with coffee and Christmas cookies.

  5. Ship the package with Meest Post.

  Scenario 4: Drive Among Friends

  To help children from care facilities, you just need to rally your friends:

  1. Propose the idea in a group chat or during a social gathering.

  2. Choose a children's home and decide who will contact the facility to verify the children's needs.

  3. Divide the gift list among the participants – let everyone buy a few things according to the agreed budget.

  4. Organize a meeting where you can wrap the packages together.

  5. Register the shipments online and send them via Meest Post.

Cheap Package Shipping with Meest Post Step-by-Step

Shipping with Meest Post is a simple, cheap, and convenient option, especially if you are organizing a larger gift drive. To ship a package:

1. Pack the package carefully and securely
   Use a sturdy cardboard box that can withstand transport. Fill it with bubble wrap or crumpled paper so the contents do not move during transit. Secure each item separately, especially if you are packing fragile things. Finally, seal the package tightly.

2. Register the shipment on the Meest Post website
   Go to meestpost.com, create an account (if you don't have one yet), and click "Add shipment." Enter the details of the chosen children's home as the recipient and your details as the sender. Also provide the weight and dimensions of the package so the system can correctly calculate the delivery cost.

3. Choose the most convenient shipping method
   In the next step, decide how you want to send the package. You can do it at a Meest Post point, use available parcel lockers, or arrange for a courier to pick it up from a specified address, which seems to be the most convenient option for a larger number of shipments.

4. Pay for the shipment and prepare the label
   After confirming the details, make the payment online. Then, download the generated label, print it, and stick it on the package in a visible place. You also have the option of shipping without a label, where you only use the code provided by the system during drop-off.

5. Ship the package using your chosen method
   Take the shipment to a Meest Post point or place it in a parcel locker according to the on-screen instructions. If you are handing the package directly to a courier, have it ready at the agreed time. Keep the proof of shipment – you will need it to track the package.

6. Monitor the shipment until delivery
   Go to meestpost.com again, enter the tracking number, and check the current status of the package. This will let you know when the gifts will reach the children, and the entire drive will be a complete success.

Send Your Christmas Package for a Children's Home with Meest Post!

Christmas packages for children in a children's home are a simple gesture that can change a lot. The packages don't have to contain expensive gifts – it's enough that they are thoughtful and from the heart. Whether on your own or with a group of friends, colleagues, or parishioners – it's always worth sharing the Christmas joy.

If you are planning a larger gift drive or want to send several packages at once, contact the Meest Post Customer Service Office. You will then receive an individual discount for shipping packages to children's homes. Together, we can make this Christmas a little warmer