Operation Christmas Child: Pack A Shoebox For A Child In Need

One charity that is very near and dear to my heart is Operation Christmas Child. This year Operation Christmas Child will reach more than 9.8 million children to let them know that they are loved and not forgotten.

To participate, fill a traditional sized shoe box or a plastic shoe box storage container with items appropriate for a child in one of the following age groups:

• 2-4 Girl
• 2-4 Boy
• 5-9 Girl
• 5-9 Boy
• 10-14 Girl
• 10-14 Boy

We usually go to the Dollar Tree and select items that they would like. We also add hard candy (that won’t melt) and a letter from us to the child. Sometimes we even include a picture of our family.

Here are a few ideas:

• Crayons or markers
• Coloring book
• Stickers
• Small toys
• Doll
• Stuffed Animal
• Balls
• Jacks

Once you have assembled your box, you can visit the Samaritans Purse website to download and print your label for your box. You will need to include a check for $7 to cover the shipping for the box. You can also give your donation online using the Follow Your Box Donation method. This will enable you to track your boxes and know where in the world it ends up!

Samaritan’s Purse will be collecting gift-filled shoe boxes at more than 2,900 drop-off sites in all 50 states and Puerto Rico during National Collection Week, November 14-21. To find the nearest drop-off location, call (800) 353-5949 or visit visit their website.

Here are some very interesting facts about Operation Christmas Child that you might not know:

• It is the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind.
• The number of children who have received Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts since 1993 (86 million) exceeds the populations of the United Kingdom and Australia combined.
• Operation Christmas Child uses whatever means necessary—truck, boat, plane, helicopter, bike, donkey, dog sled, even elephant—to bring shoe boxes to children in more than 100 countries.