Operation Christmas Child

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

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.

These items are NOT allowed for various reasons.

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 snowglobes 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.

If you'd like to help this group you can make a donation online.
You can also designate which project you'd like to help or give "where most needed"