Holiday Gift Idea Gives Hope to Kids World-Wide

Operation Christmas Child Ready to Collect & Deliver Shoe Box Gifts

Nov 13, 2009 Mary King

Samaritan's Purse is an international Christian relief organization. Volunteers for Operation Christmas Child hand-deliver shoe box gifts to children around the globe.

Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization that helps people around the world living in desperate circumstances. For nearly four decades, volunteers have reached out to victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease and famine. Each year, through Operation Christmas Child, volunteers collect and deliver shoe boxes filled with small gifts, offering hope during the holiday season.

Fill a Shoe Box and Help a Needy Child at Christmas

Nadia Morgan of Coastal Christian Family Magazine, submitted the article, "Mission Makers: Shoe Boxes Full of Love" (Nov. 2009, p. 15), and states, "Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child ... has hand-delivered more than 69 million gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children in over 130 countries." And, "We all know times are bad here in the United States, but most of the children who receive shoe boxes live in conditions we can only imagine."

November 16-23 is National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child 2009. There is still time for anyone who wants to contribute a gift box(s). Anyone donating a box should be aware there is a $7 (USD) charge to help with mailing costs. There are instructions for filling and labeling the shoe boxes at the Samaritans Purse website. There are also recommendations for what to put in the box.

But that's not all. According to the information "How to Pack a Shoe Box" provided on the Samaritan's Purse website, "In a separate envelope, 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.)"

Get Children Involved in Giving a Christmas Gift

Giving to OCC is easy. Create a few boxes as a family holiday project or start a new family tradition by donating shoe box gifts each year to Operation Christmas Child. Provided here is a brief explanation of how to donate a shoe box gift to Operation Christmas Child:

Find a standard-size shoe box or use a small plastic box that's relatively the same size. Wrap the box and lid separately if desired (wrapping is optional).
Choose "boy" or "girl" and an age category: 2-4 years, 5-9, or 10-14.
Fill with small gifts and toys: jacks, slinky, jump rope, solar calculator, etc. Add a few school supplies or hygiene items, too. There is a long list of suggestions on the Samaritan's Purse website (as well as items that should not be included).
On the "How to Pack a Shoe Box" website page, see the instructions for downloading and printing the Boy/Girl label with the age chosen.
Include in the box a check in the amount of 7.00 (USD) to cover shipping costs or make the payment online with the "EZ Give" donation form provided on the website. (Contributors that pay online can track the shoe box to see where it goes.)
Place a rubber band around each box and drop off at the nearest collection center. Visit the Samaritan's Purse website and fill in one's zip code to find the nearest drop-off location for shoe boxes.

If there is no drop-off location nearby, boxes may be sent to:

Samaritan’s Purse

Operation Christmas Child

801 Bamboo Road

Boone, NC 28607

Items that Should Not be Included in Gift Shoe Boxes

There are some items that should not be included in the gift boxes. The list can be found on the "How to Pack a Shoe Box" page of the Samaritan's Purse website. 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

Operation Christmas Child provides a measure of hope and joy by providing gift boxes for needy children in impoverished areas of the world. Donating a shoe box filled with small toys, school supplies and toiletries is one way to make a difference this Christmas holiday season. Children can help decorate and fill the box. Add a personal letter and family photos to the shoe box to make the gift even more special. Make Operation Christmas Child a new family tradition and share the spirit of giving.

The copyright of the article Holiday Gift Idea Gives Hope to Kids World-Wide in Poverty/World Development is owned by Mary King. Permission to republish Holiday Gift Idea Gives Hope to Kids World-Wide in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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