For many years when my children were growing up, I was their Girl Scout leader. We did many fun activities, and went on many trips and camping four times a year. But, we also did many service projects, including making Christmas Stockings for the local fire department to deliver to needy families, and packing food boxes to deliver as well. These community service projects became a tradition in our family, and taught my children to give to others and to be compassionate. They are now in their late thirties, and they are still serving their communities with service from their hearts.
Operation Christmas Child is expecting to reach a milestone this year, with more than 100 million children receiving shoe box gifts since 1993. They hope to collect more shoe box gifts this year to reach as many children as possible.
One way you can participate, even if you have no children at home anymore, is through the virtual Build-A-Box website. There, you can fill your box online, and make a donation to Operation Christmas Child. It’s very easy to do, and will help a child somewhere in the world have a happier Christmas.
Instructions on how to pack a box at home:
1. Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required.
2. Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label shown below. Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.
3. Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child.
4. Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs.* You can give online, or you can write 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.
5. Place a rubber band around each shoe box and lid and drop off at the Collection Center nearest you in mid-November. For locations and dates, call 1-800-353-5949,or visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ. You can also send your shoe box gift to:
Samaritan’s Purse/Operation Christmas Child,
801 Bamboo Road, Boone, NC 28607
This holiday season build a box with your family to teach kindness, compassion, and generosity.
BlogFrog will match the first 200 boxes that are built. Pledge your commitment below to build a box today on Facebook or Twitter!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Operation Christmas Child. The opinions and text are all mine.
This holiday season build a box with your family to teach kindness, compassion, and generosity.
BlogFrog will match the first 200 boxes that are built. Pledge your commitment below to build a box today on Facebook or Twitter!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Operation Christmas Child. The opinions and text are all mine.
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