Operation Christmas Child Collecting for Needy

This week offers families a chance to work on a special project that brings Christmas joy to children all around the world.

November 12-19 is National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child, an outreach effort by Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization that provides spiritual and physical aid to people around the world.

Operation Christmas Child collects shoe boxes filled with gifts and other items and sends them to needy children around the world.

To create an Operation Christmas Child box, follow these steps.

Select an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required.

Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label by downloading the artwork to the right. Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/pdf/PackABoxwithLabels.pdf

Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child. 

What should you put in the shoe box?

Toys – small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonica or other small musical instruments, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch-A-Sketches, Slinkys, toys that light up or make noise (please include extra batteries.)

School Supplies – pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamp and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books.

Hygiene Items – toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloths, 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 – Include a note to the child and a picture of yourself and your family. If you include your name and address, they may write back.

What shouldn't go in the shoe box? Used or damaged items; war-related items including toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snowglobes or glass containers; aerosol cans.

Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using the “Follow Your Box Donation” option, or you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation.

Place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop it off at the
collection center nearest you during our collection week, November 12-19, 2012.

Area Drop-Off Locations Are:

Easley

Siloam Baptist Church 229 Siloam Road Easley.

Drop-Off Hours: Mon – Nov 12: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Tues – Nov 13: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Wed – Nov 14: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Thur – Nov 15: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Fri – Nov 16: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Sat – Nov 17: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Sun – Nov 18: 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Mon – Nov 19: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Mount Carmel Baptist Church 1621 Hester Store Road Easley

Drop-Off Hours: Mon – Nov 12: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Tues – Nov 13: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Wed – Nov 14: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Thur – Nov 15: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Fri – Nov 16: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Sat – Nov 17: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Sun – Nov 18: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Mon – Nov 19: Not Collecting

Mauldin

Mauldin United Methodist Church100 E Butler Avenue Mauldin.

Drop-Off Hours: Mon – Nov 12: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Tues – Nov 13: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Wed – Nov 14: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Thur – Nov 15: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Fri – Nov 16: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Sat – Nov 17: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Sun – Nov 18: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Mon – Nov 19: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Taylors Area

Joshua’s Way Inc. 1001 W Poinsett Street Greer, SC 29650

Hours: Mon – Nov 12: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tues – Nov 13: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Wed – Nov 14: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Thur – Nov 15: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Fri – Nov 16: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sat – Nov 17: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Sun – Nov 18: 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Mon – Nov 19: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

You can also send your shoe box gift to:

Samaritan’s Purse
Operation Christmas Child
801 Bamboo Road
Boone, NC 28607

You can also call 1-800-353-5949 for more drop-off locations or visit samaritanspurse.org