Operation Christmas Child

We are asking you to join us this year in the Operation Christmas Child initiative and help to bring a little joy to children less advantaged than us. We will be talking to the children about OCC  and sending out all the necessary information on Monday 3^rd November.

Since 1990, Operation Christmas Child – an initiative of the Christian relief and development agency Samaritan’s Purse – has been blessing underprivileged children around the world with gift-filled shoeboxes wrapped and packed by children and adults in the UK.

It is now the UK’s largest children’s Christmas appeal and the idea is simple. Children and adults wrap and pack shoeboxes with a range of gifts and take them to a convenient ‘drop-off point’. We collect these gift-filled shoeboxes and, after processing for export purposes, we send them overseas where local churches distribute them to children, on the basis of need alone. Each shoebox is an unconditional gift, given to a child with nothing asked for, or expected in return; no pledges, no obligation to go to church or attend classes; ‘no strings attached’. These shoebox gifts are an expression of God’s love to us, and the gift of His Son Jesus at Christmas.

Operation Christmas Child has delivered 113 million gift-filled shoeboxes to needy children in the last 23 years and we are trusting God for another 100 million. Will you join with us in 2014 to achieve this goal?

SHOEBOX
Find an empty medium sized shoebox and wrap box and lid separately.

BOY OR GIRL?
Decide if your gift is for a Boy or a Girl and the age category: 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14. Stick the appropriate boy/girl label and the correct age category and stick the label to the top of your shoebox. We will give you the labels on 3^rd November.

FILL WITH GIFTS
Fill your shoebox with a variety of new gifts that will bring delight to a child. See gift suggestions below or have a go at making your own.
Remember to pray for the child who will receive your shoebox gift.

GIFT SUGGESTIONS
Please fill your box with a selection of new gifts from the following list, or similar items:

TOYS: Include items that children will immediately embrace such as dolls or stuffed toys (with CE label), toy trucks, harmonica, yo-yo, skipping rope, ball, small puzzles etc.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Pens, pencils & sharpeners, crayons or felt pens, stamps & ink pad sets, writing pads or notebooks & paper, solar calculators, colouring & picture books etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS: Toothbrush and toothpaste, bars of wrapped soap, comb or hairbrush, flannel.

OTHER ITEMS: Hat, cap, gloves or scarf, sunglasses, hair accessories, jewellery set, wind up torch, wrapped sweets (sell by date must be at least March of the following year).

DO NOT INCLUDE: used or damaged items, war related items such as toy guns, play soldiers or knives; chocolate or other food items; liquids or lotions of any type including bubbles; medicines; hand-made or knitted stuffed toys; anything of a political, racial or religious nature; marbles or sharp objects; glass containers, mirrors or fragile items; clothing other than as listed above.

INCLUDE £3 DONATION PER BOX
We ask for a minimum £3 shipping donation to cover UK transportation, overseas shipping and promotion for each box you prepare. You can give online to discover the destination of your shoebox. You can also write a cheque to Samaritan’s Purse, place it in an envelope and put it inside your shoebox, then secure the box with an elastic band. If you do more than one box, just make out one cheque to cover all your shoebox donations, put it in an envelope and place it inside one of your shoeboxes.