Hey Y’all!
I wanted to fill everyone in on an amazing outreach mission to children abroad about the loving ministry of Jesus Christ. This year our church, Community Bible (located in Mansfield, Ohio), is collecting boxes to send over and help. The idea is simple. You take a shoebox and fill it with items such as toys, school supplies, clothing, hygiene items, and accessories that children may need. These shoeboxes are sent to hundreds of different countries worldwide and reach the children in them. This is an incredible opportunity to spread the gospel.
So what are you waiting for? Pack a box for a child to open this Christmas!
These are preferred packing items for your shoebox:
- 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), etc.
- SCHOOL SUPPLIES: pens, pencils and sharpeners, crayons, markers, notebooks, paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.
- NON-LIQUID HYGIENE ITEMS: toothbrushes, bar soap, combs, washcloths, etc.
- ACCESSORIES: t-shirts, socks, hats, 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NOT INCLUDE: Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans.
Steps to do your own shoebox ~
- SHOEBOX Grab an average sized shoebox
- 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. 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.
- INCLUDE $7 DONATION PER BOX Help cover shipping and other costs related to delivering your shoeboxes to children overseas by donating $7 for each gift 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. Note: Follow Your Box is only available through online giving.
- PRAY Ask God to use your gifts to show His love to the child who will receive your shoebox.
- DROP OFF Place a rubber band around each closed shoebox and bring it to the drop-off location nearest you during National Collection Week, November 17–24, 2014. Visit our Drop-off Locations page to find the closest collection site. Or, call 1-800-353-5949.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. – Luke 2:10
I am praying that our shoeboxes reach children in need of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ and that they can come to know his ministry and accept him into their hearts. After journeying on a mission trip to Nicaragua last January and spending time with the children, you really cannot explain the joy and love you feel when you can give those children things that they normally would not have the chance to attain. Just being able to show them compassion, affection, and love made a tremendous difference in their lives. Those children also affected our lives with their love and caring hearts. We came back feeling so fortunate and hungry to help those who need it. Please check out Operation Christmas Child to help reach and teach children all over the world about Jesus.
I chose to do two boxes, one for a boy and one for a girl, ages 5-9. For the girl we included: socks, crayons, markers, coloring book, story book, a stuffed elephant, hair clips/barrettes, calculator, toothbrush/toothpaste, and a doll. For the boy we included: a couple bouncy balls, crayons, markers, calculator, coloring book, story book, stuffed reindeer, socks, toothbrush/toothpaste, harmonica, and a few hot wheels cars. I also included a prayer to each of the children from both Aaron and I.
DEADLINE – November 17th-24th is National Collection Week to get your shoeboxes mailed.
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/
