Filling a Shoebox with Gifts for Children
The holiday season is a time to spread joy and what better way to do that than helping children in need? Please consider filling a shoebox with small tokens of love for children who would be so appreciative.
Operation Christmas Child is part of the Samaritan’s Purse organization. Every year during the month of November they collect shoeboxes filled with small gifts for child in impoverished nations all over the world. According to the Samaritan’s Purse website, the mission of Operation Christmas Child is this:
“The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.”
To see the joy on the faces of the children who receive these shoeboxes, watch this video.
Are you ready to be a part of this? National Collection Week is November 17-24, 2014. Drop-off locations are all over. Check this page to find the location nearest to you. If you are unable to go shopping and pack a box yourself, you can also build a box online and they will ship it to a child in need.
There are some suggestions as to what to pack and what is not allowed. For a list of those suggestions and complete details on how to pack a shoebox, please visit this page.
In addition to their suggestions on what to pack in a shoebox, here are some of my own ideas:
Flip flops
Homemade items such as – knitted scarf, knitted hat, small blanket for babies and toddlers
Drawstring backpacks
Learning tools such as: small packs of foam blocks, Lego kits, puzzles (can put pieces in bag and cut out picture of completed puzzle and put in bag), Zoobs, Travel size Magna Doodle
Items for developing fine motor skills such as: Play dough, kinetic sand, beading kits, lacing cards, sticker books
Craft supplies – watercolors, paints, paintbrushes, do-a-dot markers, construction paper, crayons, markers, colored pencils
Small toys that your children really enjoy. If your kids like it, these kids probably will too.
*Don’t forget to include a hand-written note or card in your box. You can even include your address and you may get a letter back.
Please consider donating to this awesome cause. Be a part of changing lives and bringing hope to those who could desperately use it!