Many of the local schools and also my youngest son's international playgroup are doing shoebox donations for children in need. There are instructions as to what sort of things you should (or should not include) and then you are asked to box them up in a shoe box or something similar.
Through my son's school, our shoe box gift donation was made to the H:E.K.S organisation. They have a detailed website but I cannot find any information about their Christmas gift appeal .. but they do have a Basel office so you could try to contact them there ..
http://www.heks.ch/en/switzerland/ba...ce-both-sides/
I believe these donations are going locally (ie in Switzerland but not necessarily in Basel)
At my younger son's playgroup, they were collecting for the charity Operation for Christmas Child (german based). You could get in touch with the church where the playgroup is held for more information
http://www.crossroadsbasel.ch/web/co...d,1/Itemid,10/
Or you could look at the umbrella organisation website
www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk
I know there is a collection point for all the Operation Christmas Child parcel donations at the Universitatspital. Crossroads church has leaflets and detailed information as to what your gifts can and cannot contain.
PS lovely idea!