Operation Christmas Shoebox

Posted October 7th, 2008 by admin

Simple gifts that touch the hearts of many! Operation Christmas Child is a project that provides gift-filled boxes to children living in difficult, even desperate circumstances. These shoe boxes bring joy and hope to children around the world and gives us a hands-on opportunity to focus on the true meaning of Christmas ~ Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift. Along with the boxes, children are offered Gospel storybooks and invited to learn more about Jesus.  We will have a box in the Narthex and the Meeting House to begin collecting for this project.  You are welcome to fill your own shoe box, bring items that can be placed in a shoe box or simply give money.  The boxes are filled for children in the following age category and can be for a boy or girl: age 2-4, age 5-9 or age 10-14.

Your gifts and prayers do change children’s’ lives.
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Acts 20:35b, NIV

Ideas for filling a box could include:

• toys ~ small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, etc.
• hygiene items ~ toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap, washcloth, comb
• school supplies ~ pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad, coloring books, writing pads or paper, solar calculators
• other items ~ hard candy, lollipops, mints, gum, sunglasses, flashlights and batteries, socks, ball cap, t-shirt, toy jewelry, hair clips, watches, small picture books.

Please do not include:

• used or damaged items
• war-related items, i.e. toy guns, knives, military figures
• chocolate or food
• liquids or lotions
• medications or vitamins
• breakable items, i.e. snow globes, glass containers or aerosol cans.

Make sure your shoe box is ready for a long journey! We would like to receive all boxes by November 14th so we can have them ready for a dedication during worship on November 16th. We have to get them to a collection center by November 17h.

As in years before, we are indeed grateful to everyone for their support of this project.