This is our 2nd year participating in this awesome ministry, and I want to start off my post with this beautiful video from Samaritan’s Purse. Every time I watch it, it brings tears to my face, happy ones! Feeling so blessed that we’re able to put smiles on the faces of these children.
As I mentioned in my first post about Operation Christmas Child. I have been collecting freebies (from hotels, conferences and festivals), and purchasing items on sales, clearance, and with coupons for this year’s shoe boxes.
I also ordered through Vistaprint this cute card that I made to include in the shoe boxes. (They were free! I just paid shipping!)
Samaritan’s Purse has this awesome form that children can personalize and add to the shoe boxes. So, we included this “About Me” form that my son colored himself. I added his picture, filled in the blanks for him and in the back I included our family picture. Since we have 15 boxes I had him color 2 sheets, and then I made 15 color copies to include in the shoe boxes.
Last year little one helped pack the shoe boxes with things that I had purchased. However, I wanted to teach him the importance of giving to those less fortunate, and have him fully involved in selecting toys for another child. So we set off to shop, and I told him that we weren’t shopping for him, and that we were going to fill shoe boxes for poor children. So before going into the store (he’s going to pack two shoe boxes ages 2-4) this was our conversation:
Me: “Do you know what we’re doing here?”
Little one: “Yes, Mommy. We’re going to buy gifts for other children.”
Me: “What children?”
Little one: “For the children that don’t have toys, because there mommies and daddies can’t get it for them.”
Me: “True. OK, baby. Do you want to buy for boys only or for a boy and a girl?”
Little one: “Mommy, I want to buy for one girl, and for one boy!”
He starts looking around, and picks the toys, some candy, markers, and some other things. Off we go to the cashier, and he wants to pay all by himself so I give him the money. Sweet!
This past weekend little one was ready to pack the shoe boxes with his Daddy. He packed shoe boxes for one boy and one girl ages 2-4. He was so proud and excited! Though, we still need to decorate and wrap some of the shoe boxes before the drop-off date, but at least they are all finished.
After months of planning, preparing, and praying we have finally tallied up our shoe boxes: 15 in total! What a blessing! It has been a joy seeing these empty shoe boxes come together. 15 shoe boxes, 15 lives for ever changed! The shoe boxes and the contents of what we packed can be found here.
We can’t wait for National Collection Week! We will be joined by my mommy friends, and their children. I’m looking forward to seeing the kids go in and drop-off their shoe boxes! Not only are they making a difference, they are also learning a valuable life lesson: “learning to give to others that are less fortunate.”
Make a difference in a child’s life, pack a shoe box! It’s still not too late to participate in Operation Christmas Child! If you have an empty shoe box, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, hard candy, and some small toys you can probably pack one! For more ideas and suggestions on how to pack a shoe box go here. National Collection Week is during November. You can check for the drop-off locations here.
Need more ideas, or inspiration? Check out my Pinterest board:
Follow Frances’s board Operation Christmas Child & Shoe Box Ideas on Pinterest.
Please share, like or comment! Love hearing what you have to say!
I love how you have been collecting things all year long. I need to start doing this too.
Thank you so much! It has been a labor of love, to the point that I'm "wired" to always think: "OCC Shoe Boxes" 🙂 So that's why I'm buying/getting/collecting through out the year. 🙂
Your son has a sweet heart – and so cute! I love the cards you included in each box!
Thank you Aadel for your kind words, and for stopping by! You can get those cards at Vistaprint.com. 🙂
This is truly an inspirational post. Wonderful. Pinning it.
Thank you Susan!!! 🙂
I was introduced to OCC by a lady from work and was immediately hooked! Have been participating every since then and have tried to increase the # of boxes we make each year. I, too, shop all year long to help with the cost and LOVE sales. This year (2015) my church craft group ladies are going to participate – our goal is 25 – and we are going to make a lot of the things that we'll include. That's why I have to get them going now, in April, to be sure to have all our projects done in time. This is a wonderful ministry! Love the cards you had made.
Thank you Martha for stopping by! Isn't shopping for OCC so much fun especially when you're putting the boxes together. What joy! 25 boxes sounds awesome! May God continue to bless you so you can bless others. 🙂
Hi there, thank you so much for posting about OCC. I love your card idea, just what I've been looking for. Can you tell me if there is a template you used?
Thanks so much,
Sandy Kendrick
Hi SandyK! Go to Vista Print, and click under ALL PRODUCTS – MARKETING MATERIALS – RACK CARDS. Under search designs type in the ID: 434011 and voila! There you have the card that you can customize.