Operation Christmas Childbrings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world. This program of
Samaritan's Purse provides an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on mission project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe box gifts have been packed, shipped and delivered worldwide to children in 95 countries.
Our 6 Quart shoebox is the recommended size for Operation Christmas Child. We have been told that the plastic box itself is one of the most precious parts of the gift; they become treasured household items and are used for holding food & clean water among many other daily uses.
SpaceSavers is not affiliated with Operation Christmas Child or Samaritan's Purse.
People oftem ask what size box for Operation Christmas Child is best. Samaritan's purse has recommended the 6 quart storage box from Sterilite that we feature this season, but any shoe box is acceptable. The plastic shoeboxes are preferable because even though the shoeboxes for Christmas will be filled with gifts, the recipients can continue to use them for storage long after the holiday season.
What should you pack in your plastic box for Operation Christmas Child? First, decide on if you plan on giving items for a boy or a girl and pick from one of the following ages: 2-4 years, 5-9 years, or 10-14 years. You can download labels and gift suggestions for each age group from the Samaritan’s Purse website that you should adhere to the plastic boxes for Operation Christmas Child delivery. Mark the label with the correct age for the gifts that you pack inside.
Fill the plastic box with gifts. Suggested gift ideas would include toys, such as small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries) are just a sampling of items. You could also send school supplies, such as pens, pencils, sharpeners, crayons, markers, stamps and ink pad sets, notebooks, paper, solar calculators, and coloring and picture books. Another good choice would be to send hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, and a washcloth. Other choices to fill up your box may include hard candy and lollipops (double bag the candy), mints, gum, t-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, and flashlights (with extra batteries).
Use the tracking tools on the Samaritan's Purse web site to track your Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to see where they end up. You can use this information for educational purposes - maybe you'll want to learn more about the country and people where your Christmas shoeboxes end up. If you work with a Youth Group or Sunday School class you could post a map with pins for the endpoint of each of the boxes for Operation Christmas Child that you packed.
You may enclose a note to your child and a photo of yourself or your family in your box for Operation Christmas Child. If you include your name and address, the child may write back.
Do not include used or damaged items, war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures, chocolate or food, out of date candy, liquids or lotions, medications or vitamins, breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers, or aerosol cans.
Once your Operation Christmas Child Shoebox is packed, you will need to take it to a collection center.
For 2011 collection dates for Operation Christmas Child are scheduled for November 14-21.
You can find even more information about how Operation Christmas Child works and promotional information for your church or organization at
www.samaritanspurse.org.
Shoe Storage, Closet Organizers, Storage Containers | SpaceSavers.com