There are only two weeks until collection week (Nov. 12-19) for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child project. If you have not started collecting gifts, school supplies, and toiletries, get busy! Find a drop off location close to you in these four countries: USA, Australia, UK, Canada.
I hope your Operation Christmas Child boxes are almost ready to ship off. Mine are!
Filling it Up
I like to fill every nook and cranny so that my boxes are overflowing. I know how expensive overseas shipping is, so I want to make my boxes worth every penny. And although I’m sure Samaritan’s Purse has some special arrangements to ship the boxes, it still has to cost a lot.
I fill every space with practical gifts for my OCC recipient.
These are things I cram into the empty spaces after I pack the big things:
- snack size zipped bags with gum and hard candy
- wash cloths
- socks
- pencils and pens
- erasers
Making it Personal
Don’t forget that you can add some personal touches to your shoe boxes.
- a photo of your family
- a map postcard of your state
- a letter or drawing from your children
The Logistical Details
1. Make sure your box has the appropriate label. Use this PDF for the green boy label and the red girl label or the image below (click to enlarge).
Click to enlarge and save/print.
2. Use rubber bands to close your box. Never tape it shut because volunteers have to check the boxes before shipping.
3. The last thing to consider is your check. Samaritan’s Purse asks for $7 per box to cover the costs of shipping. You can give more, though.
Last year was my first time to donate online. When our boxes were delivered, we got an email telling us what country they landed in. I was thrilled to know where they ended up. The email was a great reminder to again pray for the recipients and the local workers who would be following up with Bible teaching. Knowing where your boxes landed also gives opportunity for a living geography lesson for homeschool.
It’s Up to You
How many Operation Christmas Child boxes are you making this year?
Disclosure
As a member of iHomeschool Network’s Samaritan’s Purse Blogger Team, I write about the ministry on a volunteer basis. All posts are my own thoughts and do not necessarily reflect the views of Samaritan’s Purse. I am not an employee, agent, or contractor of Samaritan’s Purse. For official information, please see the Samaritan’s Purse website.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
such a great project – we are filling Christmas stockings locally (we live in the 4th hardest hit county in the nation) – and we are filling OCC boxes at church – If I get a chance to write about it – I’ll come link up!
kelli- AdventurezInChildREaring recently posted Kids in the Kitchen – Linky #38 – Venison Tacos.
We had the most awesome experience at church on Sunday. There were two young adults who addressed the congregation. Each of them had been a recipient of a “shoe box” in their youth. One had been in a refugee camp in Thailand and the second person had been in India, enroute to Canada from Burma (Myanmar). They verified for us that the shoe boxes have a great impact!
Twitter: thesetemptents
November 4, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Myra – that is such an awesome testimony. I have seen videos on YouTube about the former recipients of shoeboxes, but to have two in your church!? Amazing!
Aadel recently posted Operation Christmas Child Packing Party.