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Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child is an initiative put together by the Samaritan's Purse to send shoeboxes filled with school supplies, toys, and other gifts to needy children worldwide, as a Christmas gift of sorts. In addition to supplying children with the things they need to grow up well, these children will also get the chance to hear the Gospel. As a part of FCBC Walnut, Unikoi Fellowship is encouraging everyone to pitch in to help our OCC project. We are trying to make and send as many boxes as we can to the OCC Collection Center in Irvine so that our small gifts of love can touch the lives of children worldwide. We are encouraging everyone to help either by making a box themselves and dropping it off at church or pitching in with the church's goal of sending many boxes out this year in any way possible. (Instructions on How to Pack a Box below.) Unikoi will be holding an OCC Packing Night on Friday, November 5, 2010 to encourage people to help the church help the OCC project. Help make a child's dream come true this year! Visit http://www.samaritanspurse.org/occ/ for more information on Operation Christmas Child, videos detailing the history and mission of OCC, and tips on how to help out. Note: If you are packing a box separately, be sure to enclose your donation and drop off the box to church by November 21. If you have any questions, please forward them to Hanley (contact info on the Contact section). How to Pack a Box Packing a box is both easy and fun, and it takes 5 simple steps to pack a box. - Find a Shoebox - Find a shoebox or other container to hold the stuff that you will be sending out. A shoebox works perfectly, but it can also be a small plastic container. You can wrap the box if you'd like, and if you do, please make sure to wrap the lid separately.
- Boy or Girl? - Decide whether you'd like to prepare a box for a boy or a girl. Also decide the age category of the child that you will be sending this box to (2-4, 5-9, 10-14). This will assist you in choosing gifts and supplies to send. Also, print out a label (available in the brochure; link provided below) and mark which age category you will be sending this gift to.
- Fill it up! - Now, the fun part! Fill your box with gifts and other things that will be suitable for the child you are sending this box to! Gift ideas (taken from OCC brochure):
- 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.
- Others - 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; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snowglobes or glass containers; aerosol cans.
- Donate! - Please include a donation of $7 or more (per box) to cover the shipping costs involved. Please enclose a check to Samaritan's Purse (with OCC in the memo) in an envelope attached to the top of your box. Or, you may give online at http://www.samaritanspurse.org/occ/. If you are preparing more than one box, please make a combined donation.
- Drop off your box! - You can drop off your box at church in front of the main office or on OCC Packing night. If you cannot do either, you may mail the box to:
Samaritan’s Purse/Operation Christmas Child,
801 Bamboo Road, Boone, NC 28607
The information above and more may be found at http://www.samaritanspurse.org/pdf/PackABoxwithLabels.pdf. (note: this is a PDF file that will download onto your computer once clicked.) Remember: If you are packing a box separately, be sure to enclose your donation and drop off the box to church by November 21 (date may change).
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