OCC shoeboxes are just a small part (perhaps the most well-know part) of what the SP organization does throughout the world. I am an American who has been packing shoeboxes for years, and the evangelical nature of the project is obvious and known in the USA. While I cannot speak as to how the project is promoted in Canada and the UK, I can assure you that SP does a whole lot more than toy-filled shoeboxes. If you spend a little time on the SP website or if you receive updates via mail about their ministries as I do, you will learn that they do provide "sustainable aid to those in need" throughout the world (reference a few other posts on this site).
They provide emergency relief to victims of natural disaster, war, disease, and famine, including emergency food supplies, materials for temporary shelter, and water filtration/treatment to provide clean water to communities without. They provide community development services including livestock and farming assistance/training, vocational training, construction of schools, and educational assistance. They provide to needy children food, clothing, shelter, medical treatment, and education. They have a program that provides medical equipment, medical supplies, and even medical personnel (volunteer doctors, dentists, nurses, etc.) to mission hospitals and clinics worldwide. They match (and cover travel expenses for) children who have life-threatening heart conditions to North American hospitals and doctors who donate their time and services to treat those medical conditions. They even have a ministry for those suffering with HIV/AIDS throughout the world.
Oh, yes, this is about so much more than shoeboxes filled with gifts. While you may not agree with the evangelical nature of the organization or perhaps you just take issue that they do not make their evangelical nature obvious in your country (as you claim to have experienced), I do not believe it possible to deny the incredible amount of GOOD that SP does internationally. The shoeboxes are a tangible means of representing God's love to children. All of SP's ministries are modeled after Jesus' ministry in that Jesus addressed a person's physical needs before addressing their spiritual needs.
Disagree with their methods...ok...but be careful that your words/actions/beliefs do not hinder others from supporting the good work that is being done. Have you checked for the speck in your own eye?
