It’s not even November and some of us are already thinking
about Christmas. What’s the big rush you
ask? It’s time to fill shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child! Since 1993, the
Samaritan’s Purse project has collected and delivered more than 124 million gift-filled shoe
Samaritan’s Purse project has collected and delivered more than 124 million gift-filled shoe
boxes to children in more than 150 countries and territories.
These personalized shoe boxes filled with toys and gifts will go to children in
some of the hardest-to-reach countries around the world.
Day after day on TV and the Internet, we see heart-wrenching
pictures of children set adrift as refugees from war-torn countries. Also many
families in Africa and Southeast Asia lack the basic necessities of life with
little resources left to bring sunshine into a child’s life. We may not be able
to personally go on a mission trip to help the world’s children, but we can
support the work of Samaritan’s Purse in distributing shoe boxes to the neediest
of them.
Many senior adults in retirement communities and as
individuals participate in this project. A recent internet video showed a
91-year-old woman sewing small tote bags to include in the boxes. Her goal for
2015 is to make 200 drawstrings bags. She wakes up with a purpose each and
every day knowing that she is helping to bring joy to a child’s life.
What goes into a shoe box? The most popular items include a
small doll, inflatable soccer ball, school supplies, hygiene items like
toothbrushes and soap, flip-flops and socks. Non-chocolate candy, beads for
girls, and flashlights for boys are much desired by children everywhere. A
regular shoe box filled with items and wrapped in Christmas paper can be taken
by November 23 to one of 4,000 drop-off sites in all 50 states. Operation
Christmas Child also provides free pre-printed boxes for filling that are available at
Christian bookstores.
Shoe boxes are flown to countries all over the world and
distributed via boat, truck, and by mule into the remotest communities of
people. The children and teenagers are then given an opportunity to take a
class called “The Greatest Journey” that introduces them to God’s love through
Jesus Christ. Lives are changed for eternity, as many receive the hope offered
by the Gospel. And it all starts with a shoe box and a visit to your local
dollar store.
More information on how you can help is found at the
website: www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.
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