Operation CHRISTmas Child- helpful info for y'all!

[Kerbluey]

I honestly wasn't sure if this belonged here or in Anything Goes. Mods, please move if needed.

Does anyone do Samaritan's Purse shoeboxes? I finally remembered this year early enough to get started on some. Usually it comes to my attention the same day they're due at the drop-off locations. Anyway, I've done some in the past and they're so much fun. I think this year I'm going to focus on making up some for older children. I was a nerd...wait, I still am.....so my boxes will include art supplies, writing paper, pens, etc. I'm open to any good ideas for things to put in for boys or girls ages 10-14.

Anyone else enjoy doing this?

 

[ShilohRose]

We have done it in the past, and it was fun. I don't remember exactly how now, but there is a way to track where your shoeboxes end up.

 

[BlueRegard]

Oh my! I was just looking at that last night! I have never done it before and I was wondering if there was a deadline for dropping off the shoeboxes so they could get them organized and delivered. I was going to start now! Yes, ShilohRose, according to the website, that label you can print out will have the info to track the shoebox.

I would love some ideas too. Which age group were you looking at?

 

[ShilohRose]

What I've done in the past is let my kids choose the age group they wanted to fill a box for. After that, I'd give them some money and they would use some of theirs, and we'd go to Target or Walmart. Things like candy, soap, washcloths, toothpaste and toothbrushes, I would buy, and the children would get the toys and other things. I was surprised what they would choose to buy sometimes. I remember one time that they bought mittens and scarves in addition to the toys they picked up. We usually get art supplies, too. My two daughters are artists, and they enjoy giving those sorts of things. Oh, and flashlights. Flashlights and batteries, and the sweetest little baby dolls we can find.

 

[Kerbluey]

ShilohRose, I'd thought of those other things, but flashlights and batteries are a great idea! Regarding washcloths, I was reading a note on the site from a little boy who was so thrilled to get a washcloth of his own and not have to share one with several other children!

BlueRegard, the deadline for turning them in to the drop-off locations is November I think, which is why I was delighted to remember here in July! I'm doing the 10-14 age group if you were asking me. I've read they don't get enough boxes for this age group. I read on their site that almost 600,000 were delivered last year. Wow! I kept getting things in my eyes as I was reading, causing them to, you know, water.

I'm going to buy some needlework supplies to include too along with patterns. I generally think putting together the younger aged kids' shoe boxes is more fun, but I'm kind of getting into the older age now that I've been thinking about it.

 

[Walter Kerr]

In Australia the whole thing is arranged by Samaritans Purse, so maybe contact them. Our Church did 250 last year and it is a wonderful project.

 

[Belle of Grace]

I have filled these shoe boxes in the past, too, and it was such fun! The only hard part was trying to turn the shoe box into a 'present' by putting wrapping paper around it and making it look pretty.
I sometimes spent more time on this part of the project than doing the actual shopping (lol), which I really liked. Maybe next time, I'll do some for the 10-14 years age range. I wasn't aware that this age was often slighted. In the past, I did one box to represent each of my three grandchildren, matching their genders and ages.
It's a wonderful ministry. I heard that tracts (in the language of each of the countries where they go) are put inside by the Samaritan's Purse ministry. Is this a fact? I certainly hope so.

 

[Walter Kerr]

The only hard part was trying to turn the shoe box into a 'present' by putting wrapping paper around it and making it look pretty.

The boxes we get from Samaritans Purse are already printed with lovely a Christmas type paper pattern, so they don't need wrapping. This may be peculiar to Australia for all that I know.

 

[ShilohRose]

I liked to buy plastic boxes because they were like an extra present, but they're hard to wrap. I have seen those that are already printed here in the U.S. as well.

 

[Hol]

The boxes we get from Samaritans Purse are already printed with lovely a Christmas type paper pattern, so they don't need wrapping. This may be peculiar to Australia for all that I know.

My church sends our shoeboxes to Samaritan's Purse for them to wrap too. I love fixing two up, one for a boy, one for a girl. I'll check the website for older kids who may get neglected, I didn't know that!

Last year I photo copied some excellent biblical stories from a book I have on learning the Bible from Rose Publishing, called Rose Book Bible Charts, Maps & Timelines, vol. 1 & 2. They are reproducible for ministering, and great graphics. I bought them for myself as a baby believer. There are images the first six days of creation, Noah's ark, the Tabernacle in the wilderness, Jesus ministering to children, the Temple during Solomon's time & Herod's, our history of receiving the sacred scripture. I run a color copy of several pages and place it in, believe me, this is basic information aimed at children & new believers - very basic, but I turn to it again and again.

Thanks Kerbluey for this reminder of a time to give ❤️

 

[Lily]

I've done this project before and enjoyed it very much. I'm glad you reminded us now because sometimes time runs down and I've forgotten to do this. I do it on my own and there is a drop off site in my city, so I had no one to remind me.

I can't decide if I'd like to track the boxes or just let my imagination run on about where it belonged. I've heard stories that children have prayed for certain items (like shoes) and their box would contain the item, right size and everything. How's that for God directing gifts to answer prayers?

 

[Hol]

... I've heard stories that children have prayed for certain items (like shoes) and their box would contain the item, right size and everything. How's that for God directing gifts to answer prayers?

Well that is AMAZING.

Heavenly Father,

 

[Walter Kerr]

At our Church we make a bit of a celebration out of packing the shoe boxes. This is how we do it. Every month we get a list of items to bring in that month. At the end of the year we have a day where we all meet together. Every table has a particular item. If that item is required for your box then you visit it and select what you need.

Everyone get one box at a time and that box has a list of what is required to fill it. We walk around and pick up those things from the appropriate table. Once you have completed one lap your box is full and you take it to another table where the adult staff close it up and label it.

This is a fun day, a great time of fellowship and everyone can participate. The kids in particular love doing this. They are given a box that fits their own age group and so they very carefully select items that they would like. It is fun to watch how carefully they select them and how lovingly they pack them. They really do enjoy it and I like to watch them.

This is a great part of our Christmas time celebration with much fun and laughter and a cup of tea as well.

 

[Lily]

Walter, what a great idea! You make me wish I was there filling boxes with you all!

I know that Franklin Graham started this in an unexpected way, he sort of fell into it by way of helping a friend. Now look what's happened. One of the greatest blessings undertaken on a worldwide basis. Amazing!

 

[Kerbluey]

Yes, presenting the gospel is part of this. I've been watching videos online, and there are picture books given either in or with each box. I've also seen people holding books and talking to the children. I assume they're in the language of each country. I can see words on the pages in addition to the pictures. I'm sure Samaritin's Purse addressed this. I haven't looked yet.

I've decided this year I'm tracking my boxes. I'm very interested in where they end up.

I also read that any boy of any age in any country (besides the U.S.) wants a soccer ball, lol. So last night I ordered some soccer balls with pumps. I'll fill the boxes with candy and other small items for the boys.

Something specific I'm doing for the girls' boxes (men, you may want to turn away now) is having my mom (a seamstress) make washable menstruation pads. Apparently this is a big issue in poor areas of these countries, something I never once thought of. I know how embarrassing it was for me at that age and I certainly had plenty of support and access to products.

I'm also buying the plastic boxes so they can reuse them. I was wondering last night how I could decorate them with a fun theme. I'm no wrapper, Lynn, but I love those that are wrapped!

Walter, that sounds like so much fun!!

I watched a great video on UTube last night of shoebox day at a village and orphanage in China. It was Kids On Christmas Day on a grand scale! So cute! They had to wait to open their boxes. The guy counted down and on three they all dove into them just like kids everywhere. Doggone it if I didn't get something in my eyes again causing them to water up.

 

[BlueRegard]

I was already thinking I would do the girls 10-14 age group.
The washable pads are a great idea (if I can find them) and so are the plastic boxes. Maybe I can fill some small ones with goodies to go inside the shoeboxes. I am going to order the decorated boxes from Samaritan's Purse. I don't want to go nuts trying to wrap them.

 

[Kerbluey]

I had a lot of fun today at Wmart picking up things for my boxes. I scored some pretty sneakers in a sherbert salmon color with flowers embossed on them for $3 a pair. Everyone got watercolors, colored pencils and a magnifying glass. Otherwise I got girl and boy-specific items.

 

[IIRUSTYII]

A representative showed this video a couple of years ago at our church. It tears me up every time I watch it.

 

[Kerbluey]

Well, IIRustyII, thanks for making me cry first thing in the morning. You know what? I've never lead anyone to the Lord. That's always bothered me, but I've honestly never been presented the opportunity. It never clicked with me until watching this that it's possible through the shoe boxes I've sent that I have indeed been part of winning a soul for Jesus. That makes me really happy.

 

[BlueRegard]

I had a lot of fun today at Wmart picking up things for my boxes. I scored some pretty sneakers in a sherbert salmon color with flowers embossed on them for $3 a pair. Everyone got watercolors, colored pencils and a magnifying glass. Otherwise I got girl and boy-specific items.

I don't have any children, so how do you know what size sneakers to get for the 10-14 age group (girls)? Or sizes in general?
I was going to order boxes on line, but it appears you have to order in bulk, and I don't need 100 boxes! But I want to know where they went so I got the labels with bar codes.

I have never done them before so I am very excited. I can't wait to start picking out my gifts.