Operation Christmas Child

You can fill in the blank with the location of the latest disaster. But they don't just rush in and out they are still helping victims of hurricane Katrina after 5 years. They also help where there is ongoing need, not just natural disasters. At this writing, I counted 36 different projects you could donated to, including "where most needed." From the Alaska Project to the World Medical Mission, Clean Water Projects to Orphans and many more in between. One the sidebar to the right, under the related pages, you'll see their news feed and where they are helping now.

From here you can make a donation online or learn more about the different projects.

First you'll need an empty shoe box (standard size, please) If you wrap the box make sure to wrap lid separately, but wrapping is not required.

Next you need to decide if your gifts will be for a boy or a girl, and the child's age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Make sure to tape a label to the top of the box. Click here to get a label.

Now for the fun part, filling it variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child. Here are some suggestions from their web site.

TOYS
small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES
pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS
toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.

OTHER
Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries).

Once your box is filled they request a $7 donation for each shoe box to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can make a check to Samaritan's Purse (note "OCC" on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box
If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation. You can also give online by using our EZGIVE option.

Lastly place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop off at the Collection Center nearest you during our collection week.

You can also send your shoe box gift to:
Samaritan's Purse
Operation Christmas Child
801 Bamboo Road
Boone, NC 28607

For many years I have donated shoe boxes for this project. I finally got to go and work at the warehouse, which my daughters did for years.

I worked in a couple of areas, one was on the line where they pack the boxes for shipping to their destination. They use large shipping boxes all the same size. My assignment was to fit fourteen boxes in each shipping carton. This is how they calculate how many cartons to send to a location. I was told sometimes children won't get a box at the distribution site if there weren't enough in each carton. It was tricky to get 14 in, especially when there were a lot of over-sized boxes. I understand the desire to want to pack a larger box so the recipient will get more, but it is better to resist this and stick with the standard size shoe boxes whether plastic or cardboard, so that no child is left empty handed.

Another thing I learned was that the youngest children and oldest children get less boxes. My guess is families doing boxes and involving their children do them for the ages of their children. So if your doing an extra box, or like me and my kids are grown, consider doing one for the little ones, or the older guys.

I collect things throughout the year. When I find things that look like they'd be a good gift for a shoe box, I pick them up and put them in a drawer. Then when it's time to fill a shoe box I only need to get a few things. I also save my shoe boxes so I'll have one when the time comes. When my girls were young, I had each one of them fill a box. If you do this with a youngsters help, here is a link to some fillin pages they can include in their box. Now that mine over 13, they volunteer at the warehouse that process the boxes for shipping.

You can go to the Operation Christmas Child site to learn more about this program.

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.

Perhaps you don't want to do a shoe box, but you need a gift for someone who doesn't need anything. You can make a donation in their name to a project
of your choice.

Samaritan's Purse has been providing relief, and devlopment for over 35 years.
Per their web site:

Our emergency relief programs provide desperately needed assistance to victims of natural disaster, war, disease, and famine. As we offer food, water, and temporary shelter, we meet critical needs and give people a chance to rebuild their lives.

Our community development and vocational programs in impoverished villages and neighborhoods help people break the cycle of poverty and give them hope for a better tomorrow.

We impact the lives of vulnerable children through educational, feeding, clothing, and shelter programs that let them know they are not forgotten.

We provide first-class treatment in the Name of the Great Physician through our medical projects, as well as supplying mission hospitals with much needed equipment and supplies.

The organization is currently headed by Franklin Graham, son of evangilist Billy Graham. To find out more about about Samaritan's Purse, visit their site, or watch the YouTube links on this page.