A Fun Way to Give

shoe box for Operation Christmas Child

It's that time of year when shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child are filled to the rim with gifts for underprivileged children all over the world. 

I strongly suspect that the majority of my readers know all about this humanitarian aid opportunity sponsored by Samaritan's Purse, but just in case you don't know, I'll tell you about it today. It's fun and you might want to join in!

We are provided with shoe boxes and a list of things to put into them for a boy or a girl that are in one of three age categories: 2 - 4 years; 5 - 9 years; and 10 - 14 years.

box for a 10 - 14 year old girl
T-shirt, beads, toothbrush, ponytail bands, hair brush,
stickers, paper, colored pens, crochet kit with 2 skeins of yarn, scissors

This box was prepared for a 10 - 14 year old girl. We are encouraged to start out with a "wow" toy such as a doll, soccer ball with a pump, or a stuffed animal.

Then we fill the rest of the box with other fun toys, hygiene items, and school supplies. (no candy, toothpaste, used or damaged items, nothing war-related such as toy guns, knives or military figures, no seeds, chocolate or food, liquids or lotions, medications or vitamins; no breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers or aerosol cans)

box for a 5 - 9 year old boy
T-shirt, pants, tooth brush, socks, hand spinner toy, writing pens,
 toy ball, post-it notes, 3x5 cards, bars of soap

After the box is filled, we tape a pre-printed label to the outside of the lid indicating if the box is for a boy or a girl, and the age group.

Inside the box we include $9 (or more) to help with shipping and other expenses.

information brochure with labels and donation envelope

Many evangelical churches all across America have been participating in Operation Christmas Child since 1993. The process begins in early October and culminates during National Collection Week (November 14-21). Samaritan's Purse collects the gift-filled shoeboxes at more than 4,000 drop-off sites in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. 

These boxes will go to some of the hardest-to-reach countries around the world. They are prepared for overseas shipment at 8 major processing centers across the USA -- Atlanta, Baltimore, Boone North Caroline, Charlotte North Carolina, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis and Orange County California.

The gifts are distributed by Samaritan's Purse and its partners to children in more than 100 countries. Participants even have the opportunity to follow the boxes they packed via the Internet.

If  you are interested in knowing more about this very fulfilling way to bring Christmas to a needy child, you can check out the website for Samaritan's Purse here: samaritanspurse.org

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