Its that time of year again;
Let the shoe box packing begin!
For those of you unfamiliar with Operation Christmas Child, it is a ministry of Samaritan's Purse, gifting shoe boxes full of Christmas gifts for underpriviledged children around the world. Shoe boxes can be picked up and dropped off at participating churches and other locations. If there is not a participating location in your area you can fill up any shoe box sized container and mail it in. Information about all of this can be found on the Operation Christmas Child website.
This is a simple way that anyone can bless a child this Christmas. I am always amazed at how deep these blessings go as I read stories of children with a specific need opening their shoe boxes to discover the exact item they had been praying for. Recently I read a story on OCC's Facebook page about a child with a foot defect who walked two days to attend the shoe box event. When he opened his shoe box he found a pair of orthopedic shoes! God deeply cares about the needs of His children, and this is one way to bring a little joy to a child and possibly meet one of those needs.
For those of you regular OCC participants- is it just me, or do you feel like you have just as much fun packing these boxes as the kids have opening them? Usually I pack a shoe box for an older boy and an older girl.
Here is my regular list of items:
Flashlight (with extra batteries)
Pencil pouch with pencils, pencil sharpener, calculator, and either colored pencils or thin markers
Notebook or journal
Flip-flops
Socks
Shirt
Shorts or a skirt
Yo-yo or jump rope
Putty
Lollipops
Card with a verse and a picture
This is my usual list, but as you see my shoe boxes are still empty. Before I start shopping and packing I want to know;
What do you love to pack in your shoe boxes?
5 comments:
I always like to throw in toothpaste, a toothbrush, and some soap. It never hurts, right?
I love your joyful giving!
All of 3rd grade is doing this at my school. Should be fun!
Kristen- Great additions! I will try to squeeze those in this year.
April- that sounds so fun. It is so awesome that you work in a school that does things like that.
Thank you for sharing. Not to many people in your position are so gracious. Your article was very poignant and understandable. It helped me to understand very clearly. Thank you for your help.
I love when it's time to pack those shoe boxes! We always have 1 day to get together with church friends and do the packing together, and 1 day to pack the box at home with our family. And this is the time I will make lots of hairclips and hairbows to put in the boxes.
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