Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Collection Week is right around the corner: November 18-25. To find a location near you, visit OCC’s site.
Buying gifts for a shoebox and then packing it is a great way to encourage your kids to share with others and truly understand the meaning that it’s more blessed to give than to receive. You can also include a letter and picture in your box. The shoebox will be a gift to treasure for a child who doesn’t have much. When the boxes are handed out, they include a little booklet called The Greatest Gift. The Gospel message is shared, and that’s exciting. Think about it. A Christmas gift with an eternal impact.
OCC box preparation is in gear around here. From rolling washcloths and securing them with hair ties (practical), to putting together the boxes, to starting the assembly line.
I’d love to hear if you’re involved with OCC!
“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion
one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.”
1 Peter 3:8
We love doing this each year, trying to pack at least 2 boxes. We even invested in a dozen of the plastic shoeboxes and are still working on those. We hope to one day volunteer at the packing center.
That’s wonderful! Yay! Love to hear this! You would so enjoy the packing center. 🙂
We did a box for a 2-4 year old boy same age as our son.
What a great idea!
We did OCC last year and enjoyed it we are thinking about doing it again this year.
Allegra,
That’s wonderful!
We love this ministry, and packing shoeboxes is a year round event :). Our goal is to pack and pay for one box each month of the year. My oldest is 9 and she is determined that one day she will be the one passing the shoeboxes out to the children. I pray God will allow that dream to become a reality for her.
Rachel,
Yes, doing it year-round is great! That’s really awesome you are working toward one a month.
Yay for Operation Christmas Child! I love how you pack shoeboxes as a family. What a great idea to wrap washcloths with hair ties!
I think the hairties was Anna’s idea.
What a great way to pack shoeboxes! I enjoy packing shoeboxes as well, I always look forward to doing it each year!
That’s awesome.
I have been concentrating on shoeboxes for boys, especially 10-14 years old. I have read that is the age group that receives the least amount. I put together a few that have tools, geared for the older boys. I buy school supplies during back to school rush, best time!
Chris,
Yes, that’s an awesome plan.
I love seeing all the little ones getting involved! Your house looks like a OCC packaging warehouse! 😀
And it feels like an OCC packaging warehouse downstairs. At least Arnold hasn’t knocked over the stacked boxes. He sleeps in the basement at night so I wondered what he would think of all of those boxes!
Such a wonderful ministry!
When my children were younger and lived here, we always put together the shoeboxes as a family (for various age groups).
It’s special to see children excited about sharing with those less fortunate, and thinking of these boxes sent to far-away places!
I enjoyed all these photos, and love seeing the Maxwell children helping. Precious! 🙂
Love, Mrs. Patti
Maybe you will soon be packing shoe boxes with your grandchildren. Won’t be long until they are old enough.
We’ve upped our extended family shoebox pledge for OCC to 5 boxes per family. We are similar in collecting supplies throughout the year. There is always so much excitement this time of year!
That’s great!
Love seeing your family’s giving hearts and working together for the Lord! My sister and I lead a small moms and children’s group once a month at our church. This month for our meeting we packed shoeboxes with the moms and children! We were able to do 50 shoeboxes this year. This is only our 2nd year, but your blog posts over the last few years about how you shop and do OCC has been very helpful. Thanks for sharing!
That’s great. Thank you for sharing.