When was the last time you opened up a gift and squealed with glee? When was the last time you got an unexpected gift? When was the last time you were given more than you thought possible?
I think mine was about 3 years ago when my parents surprised us with a Disney Cruise. Can you say heart palpitations?! We just stared at our parents in shock–a cruise?! As a gift?!
And for most of us, it would take something as big as a cruise to make us squeal. Jewelry, clothes, books and even electronics are run of the mill, forgotten-tomorrow gifts.
Most kids across the world don’t get a cruise. They don’t get jewelry. They don’t get electronics or furniture. In fact, they usually don’t get anything. Nothing.
But we can change that. We can give kids a Christmas gift. A gift that’s minimal cost and effort on your part–but when multiplied with the reach of Operation Christmas Child and the power of the Holy Spirit, it’s a monumental squeal-worthy gift!
Get Your Kids Involved
I blog a lot about how I want my kids to have an attitude of servant hood and giving. We sponsor kids, we send them letters, we collect shoes and do whatever we can to join the worldwide Body of Christ. With Operation Christmas Child, reaching out to others while showing your kids how to give is so easy. And SO FUN!
Yesterday, we went to The Dollar Tree and Wal-Mart. We bought toys, crayons (cheaper at Wal-Mart!), toothbrushes, washcloths, socks, clothes ($1 Handy Manny shirts at Wal-Mart!), candy, bouncy balls and more to fill up some shoeboxes. When we got home and laid it out on the floor my kids were ecstatic.
We set out 9 plastic boxes (that’s a gift in itself, I think!) and filled them with all the toys. We talked about the kids who would receive the gifts. We counted the toys and tried to divide them equally. We debated if a notebook or a toy was for a boy or girl. We packed and repacked to get everything in tight.
And now we have 9 boxes to send. Nine kids that will receive a gift from us! The next time that box is opened will be when a little girl or boy opens it up to squeals of delight!
Today the kids are writing letters and coloring pictures to place in each box. (We downloaded them from OCC’s website-click on CLIP ART and then scroll to the right.) In their 2 and 4 year old way showing God’s love.
The Real Gift
I wish I could explain how excited I am about this. When I was packing one of the boxes last night, trying to get it to all fit, I got tears in my eyes. A little girl would pick up the pencils I rubberbanded together, she’d smell the soap we placed inside, she’d try on the sunglasses and throw the ball in the air.
But the best part? She’ll also given a Bible storybook that tells of Jesus’ love and sacrifice for them. Then she can be enrolled in an 11 week discipleship program called The Greatest Journey. The shoebox is just the beginning! These gifts bring about the TRUE gift, the BEST gift of all, a relationship with Jesus!
So, I’m asking you to pack a shoebox. Find one in the bottom of your closet or stop by WalMart and pick one up for ninety-seven cents. Then walk around a store and let your kids fill it with treasures. Enclose $7 {or pay online to follow your box}. Then drop it off. That’s all. You don’t even have to mail it!
What a beautiful way to usher in this Holiday season. What a beautiful step to remind you and your children about giving.
Here’s Lydia telling how we packed our shoeboxes this year:
Will you pack a box? Give a gift. Change a life.
Disclosure: I am a member of the Operation Christmas Child blogger panel and write about the ministry on a volunteer basis. All posts are my own thoughts and do not necessarily reflect the views of Samaritan’s Purse. Aspart of the blogger panel, Operation Christmas Child will cover my expenses to participate in a trip to the California Processing Center to prepare shoe box gifts for overseas shipment. I am not an employee, agent, or contractor of Samaritan’s Purse.
ICStarzz says
wow. I was brought here through a tweet from oh, amanda! and while I can’t enter to deliver these boxes, reading this has inspired me to fill a shoe box this year. I had never heard of this before, and I’ve already dug out a couple shoeboxes and found out that there’s a place right down the street that takes them.
I’ll be sure to share this with others!
ohamanda says
Awesome! Thank you! Your box will be HUGE in someone’s life!
Vanderbilt Wife says
I love packing up shoeboxes. We are only doing one this year due to lack of funds, I think, but I am doing a 10-14 year old girl one. I know they get fewer boxes for the older kids because they are just harder to buy for! I was thrilled to find a little puppy purse, a cool hat, and a hair wrap at Gymboree yesterday at great discounts. Help me think of some other great ideas for older kids!! School supplies? Playing cards? Stickers? I don’t even know.
ohamanda says
I think school supplies is a big one for any age–pencils, notebooks, pencil sharpener, etc. And toiletries are always nice–soap, toothpaste, etc. Maybe some jewelry? Silly Bands?
ICStarzz says
hair ties and accessories might be a good idea for girls those ages.
Which made me wonder, is there anything that I shouldn’t get? perfumes, lotions, nail polish?
Any tips that previous givers can give me would be helpful, thanks!
ohamanda says
Here’s some ideas from the OCC website:
TOYS
small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.
HYGIENE ITEMS
toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.
OTHER
Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)
A PERSONAL NOTE
In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (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 snowglobes or glass containers; aerosol cans
ICStarzz says
awsome thank you soo much!! 😀
QuatroMama says
AWESOMESAUCE.
vanessa@silly eagle books says
fun–i love your boxes! 🙂
Jill Foley says
I’m heading this up at our homeschool co-op tomorrow. I’m excited to see how many donations are brought in.
Tricia says
Great post! I am organizing our OCC drive at our church this year. After the Shoes2Share drive we saved our empty shoeboxes for OCC….how cool is that! Our goal is to send 300 shoeboxes.
Along with the letter that you can put in the shoebox…I am encouraging participants to put a real photograph of yourself in the box. There is an OCC video about a girl named Oksana who received a box as a child when she was an orphan. She was later adopted by an American couple and now works for OCC to deliver shoeboxes to other children in need. She shared on the video that she treasured the photograph from the child who send her the shoebox. She loved seeing the face of the person who sent her the box and knowing that they personally packed this box to share Jesus’ love with her. Such an awesome story. It’s so exciting to know that someday we may meet people in heaven that we pack shoeboxes for today. I love hearing how God uses this ministry.
Leigh says
We’ll be packing boxes… but I can;t say I’ll do a Shoe Tube video! I don’t think I am creative enough for that!
Sarah Pinnix says
This is so great, Amanda! My kids had so much fun writing letters to their Christmas Children!
Jeni says
I participated in something similar when I was in college, but haven’t done it since. I think my daughter would really enjoy helping me put a box together!
(Also – your floors are gorgeous and shiny.)
sarah says
Hi Amanda – This is close to our hearts, love your pics and video!!! You are a gifted writer and i always enjoy your point of view. We do these each year with my Grandma…my kiddos GReat Grandma, Gigi!!! It is our FAV Thanksgiving memory – due to the fact the boxes must be delivered to the Church before THanksgiving. This is our video…enjoy!!! http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d546b354e7a63784e44593d0d0a&blogview=true
ohamanda says
Sarah! I just watched the whole thing and I got tears in my eyes. What a beautiful tradition and sweet family time.
Amy says
I won’t be entering, but I loved Lydia’s video! She’s so cute!
Alicia's Homemaking says
I love the video! I seriously just watched it twice, ’cause Lydia is so cute. 🙂 I love how you fit SO MUCH into the box!
Can’t wait to do ours…(better not wait, cause time is creeping up on me).
I subscribed to IYK today! Can’t believe I hadn’t done it before.
Alicia
ohamanda says
Yay! You’re so sweet!j (Really, you watched it TWICE?!)
Amy says
We packed 1 box for each of my girls but I’ve really been challenged to do more boxes next year. Love that you did so many. I’m really going to try to do more with my couponing throughout the year and save some stuff for them so it’s not overwhelming all at once. Wish I’d thought of the playdoh packs!
ohamanda says
That’s what I was thinking–I bought toothbrushes/toothpaste for everyone and I knew I could have done it for free if I had couponed. (But still $.97 for 4 Snoopy toothbrushes isn’t bad! Love Target!!)
Stacey says
Stacey from OCC headquarters here. Love to hear how you are all getting involved! Thanks so much. Shoe boxes are great tools for teaching kids about giving. Keep packing! 🙂
Merry120 says
I bought stuff to fill 2 tonight at Wal-Mart. After seeing your pics, I might try to go by the Dollar Tree and add extra stuff to stretch it to 4 boxes. Thank you for shedding light on this wonderful charity!
ohamanda says
So excited, Merry! Please post pics or upload a video! I’d love to see what you guys do!
John says
Thanks so much for supporting Operation Christmas Child! I made a video! Check it out: http://www.occshoetube.com/component/content/article/38-other-stories/116-Operation-Christmas-Child-with-John-Gabriel-Arends
ohamanda says
Awesome, John! I watched your video and loved it! You covered everything!! Thank you so much!