National Collection Week is November 15–22!
What is Operation Christmas Child?
Operation Christmas Child is a project of the international relief organization, Samaritan’s Purse. Their mission is to provide local partners around the world with shoeboxes filled with small toys, hygiene items, and school supplies as a means of reaching out to children in their own communities with the Good News of Jesus Christ. They ship these simple gifts outside the United States to children affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine, and disease, and to children living on Native American reservations in the U.S.
How to Pack a Shoebox
SHOEBOX
Use an empty cardboard or plastic shoebox (average size) or come by the church and pick up a pre-printed O.C.C. box.
BOY OR GIRL
Decide whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Download and print the appropriate boy/girl label or get one at the church when you pick up your box. Mark the correct age category and tape the label to the top of your box.
FILL WITH GIFTS
Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child (see Gift Suggestions below).
INCLUDE $9 DONATION PER BOX
Help cover shipping and other costs related to delivering your shoeboxes to children overseas by donating $9 for each box you prepare. You can give online to discover the destination of your box. Or, you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on the memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the items inside your shoebox. If you are preparing multiple gifts, please make one combined donation.
Remember to pray for the children who will receive your shoebox gifts.
Gift Suggestions
TOYS: Include items that children will immediately embrace such as dolls, toy cars, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, balls, toys that light up and make noise (with extra batteries), whistles, etc.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES: pens, pencils and sharpeners, crayons, markers, notebooks, paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.
NON-LIQUID HYGIENE ITEMS: toothbrushes, combs, washcloths, etc.
ACCESSORIES: t-shirts, socks, hats, plastic rain ponchos, sunglasses, hair clips, jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries), etc.
A PERSONAL NOTE: You may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. If you include your name and address, the child may be able to write back.
DO NOT INCLUDE: Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans.
