For several years now we have packed shoebox gifts for Operation Christmas Child. Their mission is to “demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world” by packing a shoebox full of items for a child in need. You’ll be surprised at the blessing this can will have on you, your child, and the child receiving the box!
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxFmI6lzoss?fs=1]
How to participate in Operation Christmas Child:
1) Pack a shoe box (Standard size requested): Pick an age group, gender, and include items such as small toys, school supplies, and toiletries. Click here to find full instructions. Make sure to include a donation of $7/box for shipping costs.
2) Pray for the child who will be receiving your gift.
3) Drop off the box at a local collection site: National Collection Week is November 15th-22nd. Find a collection site here. (Make sure to place a rubber band around your box just to keep it together!)
3) Follow your gift: If you make your gift donation online (to cover shipping costs), you can print out a special label and track the gift! Find instructions here.
For locations and hours of collection visit the Drop-Off Locations page where you can find the nearest place to take your shoe box 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
OH thank you for the link to Shoe Box tracking! We've been doing this for years and this will make it so much more fun–to see where they went! Cool!
We took our box to church today! M and I shopped yesterday, and it was a good day to bless someone.Freely we receive…freely we need to give!
I have four children, ages 6, 4, 2 and 2. After the first two were born, we began a tradition of packing a box for a child of equivalent age and gender of each of our children, so this year, we will pack a box for a six year old boy, a box for a four year old girl and two boxes for two year old boys. The kids get to pick everything that goes into their age/gender box and they use part of their allowance to pay for the gifts (we cover the difference). It is such a wonderful way to teach our children about giving and it is one of their favorite holiday traditions!
This year was our first year packing boxes for OCC. The videos on youtube about the kids whose lives were touched from this program really moved me. I went shopping that very day! Our boxes are packed and ready to go, and I'm making it a new countdown to Thanksgiving tradition!
Thank you for posting about this. I've been looking for a service that was simple but tangible that we could do with our 2 year old and this looks great. We went to the store this morning and she helped me pick out things to fill our shoe box. I'm really excited!
Thank you for posting about this. I've been looking for a service that was simple but tangible that we could do with our 2 year old and this looks great. We went to the store this morning and she helped me pick out things to fill our shoe box. I'm really excited!
Thank you for posting about this. I've been looking for a service that was simple but tangible that we could do with our 2 year old and this looks great. We went to the store this morning and she helped me pick out things to fill our shoe box. I'm really excited!
What a coincidence! I just found out about this organization at my mom's group this morning. We were each given a box to fill up with our own children, and I'm really looking forward to making this an annual tradition with my three year old. What an amazing organization!
I was wondering if you had any book suggestions for a 4 year old to get her ready to help and understand why we do this???
Anonymous: Hi, I don't have any book suggestions for OOCC we just discuss the meaning behind it and each child get's to pack a box and pray for the child that will be receiving their gift.