SERVICE CHALLENGE FOR NOVEMBER – OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

 I love this time of year! It is a time of love and compassion. A time of service and helping others. A time of giving and happiness.

There is no better time than NOW to teach our children to serve. My amazing cousin participates in a program called Operation Christmas Child every year. She is an example to me and I am excited to share this opportunity we all have to help someone in need this month, with you today!

Picture from http://rockyfordcolo.com

“Since 1993, more than 100 million boys and girls in over 130 countries have experienced God’s love through the power of simple shoebox gifts from Operation Christmas Child. Samaritan’s Purse works with local churches and ministry partners to deliver the gifts and share the life-changing Good News of Jesus Christ.”

The following information can be found at this link: 

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/

HERE IS HOW YOU DO IT:

.    SHOEBOX: 
Use an empty cardboard or plastic shoebox (average size). You can wrap the box, lid separately, but wrapping is not required.

.    BOY OR GIRL: 
Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Download and print the appropriate boy/girl label. Mark the correct age category on the label and tape it 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 $7 DONATION PER BOX
: Help cover shipping and other costs related to delivering your shoeboxes to children overseas by donating $7 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 shoeboxes, please make one combined donation. Note: Follow Your Box is only available through online giving.

Remember to Pray for the children who will receive your shoebox gifts.

DROP OFF
: Place a rubber band around each closed shoebox and drop off at the Collection Center nearest you during National Collection Week, November 18–25. Visit our Drop-off Locations page to find the closest collection site. Or, call 1-800-353-5949.

Gift Suggestions

.    Toys: Include items that children will immediately embrace such as dolls, toy trucks, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, balls, toys that light up and make noise (with extra batteries), etc.

.    School Supplies: Pens, pencils and sharpeners, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

.    Hygiene Items: Toothbrush, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.

.    Accessories: T-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries).

.    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 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.

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I recommend sharing the following video clip with your family. It made me cry seeing the pure joy in these cute kids faces from their shoeboxes! Let your children decide if they want to make a box for a girl or boy and what age group. Then, take them to the dollar store and let them pick out things they would like to send to make a child’s Christmas special this year. Pack it with them and deliver it to a location near you as a family. (The link below will help you find the nearest drop off location to you.)

We are so blessed to be able to have roofs over our heads, clothes on our bodies, food on our tables and presents under our Christmas trees this year. I hope we take this opportunity to help someone in need this season and while doing so, we can set the example and teach our children about serving others.

Drop off :

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/drop-off-locations/

Make sure you do this within the next two weeks as Drop Off is from November 18 – November 25!

If you participate, please take a picture and post on Facebook and Instagram to share with all of us! Use hashtag #todaysthebestday