Operation Christmas Child
I am working on getting those last little goodies together to fill my shoebox for Operation Christmas Child. OCC is a project of Samaritan's Purse (samaritanspurse.org/occ)which was started by Franklin Graham, son of Rev. Billy Graham. OCC provides an opportunity for children in over 100 countries from Nicaragua to Madagascar to receive a package of joy at Christmas. They will not only receive shoeboxes filled with little "treasures", they will receive the priceless gift of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Where do these shoe boxes filled with goodies come from?
They come from people like you and I who want to do our part in spreading the Good News and great joy to children around the world who might not ever receive such a blessing.
How do I get started?
Get a standard-size shoebox or clear container of the same size. Decide whether you want to give to a boy or a girl ages 2-4 years, 5-9 years or 10-14 years old. Then begin filling your box with age appropriate toys, school supplies and hygiene items. It is important that you visit the website to see what NOT to include such as toy guns, lotions, choccolate, glass items etc. It will also provide you with all the details of this project.
It is a nice idea to cover the top and bottom of the shoebox with Christmas wrap, but do not tape the box closed. The lid can be secured with a rubber band if you wish. You will need to download from the website an Operation Christmas Child label to put on the top of your package.
Packing the box is so much fun. It is amazing how many things you can fit into a box this size!
A few years ago I started using plastic containers as opposed to a cardboard shoe box and here's the reason why:
I was told by a volunteer from the project that many of the children will, not only use the box as a "keepsake" to store their personal things in, many will use the box to transport water for their families. This statement was truly an eye-opener for me to see how little these children have. This package that they receive means so much to them.
What do I do with my filled box?
Enlcose a check for $7.00 to cover the overseas shipping and handling and take it to a local drop-off site. You can visit the website or call 1-800-353-5949 to find a location nearest to you.
November 12-19 is the National Collection Week
~Your simple gift can make an eternal differnece~
