operation christmas child

Can you imagine when you were a child and the excitment that stirred inside as you anxiously awaited ripping into your beautifully wrapped presents sitting beneath the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree? Now imagine, if you can, being so poor that there are no presents for you. Ever. You are an orphan in Africa or a small child that lives in the third world conditions of Mexico. You may even be a child living in the United States in these conditions. Most of us cannot fathom living such a life, yet millions of children across the world do not have anything, or any hope on Christmas day.

You can change that!

I feel that it was laid upon my heart to share this message and I need to give information before it's too late (because National Collection week is November 16-23). Please watch this video. It will take five minutes of your time and perhaps change your heart!

When I watch videos of the children opening their shoeboxes I truly get overcome with emotions. Over the past few years my parents have gone down to Boone, NC to work a shift in the Operation Christmas Child warehouse. They had to unpack boxes to make sure there weren't any things not allowed inside (i.e. liquid, glass, etc.) and then repack them for shipping. They were given an orientation by the workers there and were told not to question the integrity of the boxes. Basically, if the items were allowable but you weren't sure why people packed them you were to not question but simply pass it along. Now they were told a story about a box that was full of socks. A box full of socks? Why would anyone pack that with nothing else but socks? They weren't to question it so they processed it for shipping. Well friends, that box would up in the hands of a child in Africa (I believe). The child stared into their box with large eyes that quickly started to tear. A volunteer asked why the child was crying. He answered saying that he had a problem with his feet that made it painful to walk and he had alwayswished that he had something to cover his feet. Does the Lord work in mysterious ways or what?

Here is what you can do to get involved via the Samaritan's Purse website.

1. SHOE BOX
Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift.

2. 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. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label by downloading the artwork to the right. Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.

3. FILL WITH GIFTS
Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child. Use the gift ideas provided on the bottom of this page.

4. INCLUDE YOUR DONATION
Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using our EZGIVE option, or you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation.

5. DROP OFF
Place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop off at the Collection Center nearest you during our collection week November 16 - 23.

For locations and hours of collection visit our Drop-Off Locations page where you can find the nearest place to take your shoe box by entering your ZIP Code or you can call 1-800-353-5949.

You can also send your shoe box gift to:
Samaritan’s Purse
Operation Christmas Child
801 Bamboo Road
Boone, NC 28607