Operation Christmas Child - Start Filling Now!

It's that time again to start planning what to pack in your Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes this year! National collection week is November 18 - 25, 2013. If you are trying to decide if you should fill a box this year, please watch this video. I love the excitement on this boy's face and he hasn't even opened the box yet!

 

TIPS for your OCC shoe box:

1. Use a high quality plastic shoe box so it's more durable and will last longer than a cardboard shoe box.
2. Keep your eye out all year long (especially when items are on clearance) at Dollar Tree, dollar section at Target, Goodwill, thrift stores and even yard sales (if it's new and still in original package)
4. Double bag items such as crayons, soap and candy in case it were to melt.
5. By making your donation online, you will get an email telling you what country your shoe box was sent to!
6.  PRAY before you send out your shoebox! Pray for the contents in it and the child who will receive it. Even though you don't know who will end up with it, God does!

We usually shop for the 10-14 year old age group. I heard that this is the age group with the lowest number of boxes given (If there aren't enough 10-14 year old boxes then they have to open one meant for a younger child....not too fun for them, I'm sure!) Here is what is in our shoe boxes this year plus a few other ideas:

* 10-14 Year Old BOY:

- Toothbrush / Toothpaste
- Mild Bar Soap (in plastic baggie) / Washcloth
- School supplies (pencils/pencil sharpener, notebook, crayons, etc)
- Socks / Underwear
- Baseball Cap
- Sunglasses
- Bubble gum / Hard candy (DOUBLE BAG THE GUM & CANDY!)
- Comb
- Flashlight / Extra batteries
- Hammer & Nails (In orginal package AND in zipper bag)
- Screwdriver & Screws (In orginal package AND in zipper bag)
- Tape Measure / Level 
- Legos
- Soccer ball / Air pump
- Plastic football or baseball
- Yo - yo
- Puzzle
- Card Games (Crazy Eights, Go Fish, etc) 
- Kite

* 10-14 Year Old GIRL:

- Toothbrush / Toothpaste
- Chapstick
- Mild bar soap (in plastic baggie) / Washcloth
- Hairbrush / Hair Clips / Hair Ties 
- Bracelets / Stick on Earrings / Necklaces
- Socks / Underwear
- Sunglasses
- School supplies (pencil/pencil sharpener, notebook, crayons, etc)
- Jump rope
- Sewing kit / yard of fabric / zipper 
-  Bubble gum / Hard candy (DOUBLE BAG THE GUM & CANDY!)
- Small pots / kitchen utensils 
- Puzzle 
- Card Games (Crazy Eights, Go Fish, etc)
- Kite

ITEMS NOT TO INCLUDE:
- Liquids (shampoo, lotion, bubbles, etc)
- Chocolate / food (They suggest only pack hard candy or gum)
- War related items (guns, knives, swords, or action figures holding weapons)

Every country is different on what their customs will allow through. If you do pack something that isn't allowed, the distribution center will take it out, but donate it to another ministry. So no worries, it will be used!

If you have any other ideas, please feel free to share! I'd love to hear!

ALSO, OUR HOME TEAM IS HEADING UP OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD AT CORNERSTONE THIS YEAR! THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR, SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO SOON ANNOUNCE ALL ABOUT IT AND GIVE ALL YOU CORNERSTONERS A CHANCE TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS GREAT ORGANIZATION! STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFO IN AN UPCOMING SERVICE ....