Christmas Child Shoe Box

Collection November 16-23

Act Now to Help Make this Christmas Special for a Child in Need

By Jim Day

Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project, is calling on local children, families, churches, businesses, schools and community groups to fill shoe boxes full of gifts for children overseas who are suffering from disease, famine, war, terrorism and natural disaster.

Time is running out to meet the deadline of National Collection Week, which is November 16th to 23rd. Please join hundreds of others as they prepare festively wrapped shoe boxes to deliver to the many, convenient drop-off locations listed blow.

“My shoe box gift might be the only gift a child has ever received,” said Linda Logsdon, Area Coordinator of the St. Louis and Mid-Eastern Missouri area, who is enthusiastic to pack shoe box gifts. “A shoe box can make a difference. It lets children know that someone really does care about them.”

Operation Christmas Child, a project of the international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, has collected and hand-delivered more than 68 million shoe box gifts to hurting kids in some 130 countries since 1993.

How to Prepare Your Shoe Box

Don’t wait until the last minute. Get your shoe box full of gifts together now.

First and foremost – pray. Pray for the child or children who will receive your gift. Pray that they will come to know our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, as their Lord and Savior!

In preparing your gift box, first decide the age and gender of the child you’re packing the box or boxes for: Girl or Boy: ages 2 to 4 years-old, 5 to 9 years-old or 10 to 14 years-old. Then purchase your gifts.
Next, use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. (Cardboard shoe boxes are great, but a plastic container with a snap-on lid the size of a shoe box can have many other uses after the gifts have been removed.)

You can wrap the box and lid with Christmas wrap separately, but wrapping is not required. If you do decide to wrap the box and lid, DO NOT wrap them together to seal the box because you’ll be putting a rubber band around the box after you’ve placed your gifts and other items mentioned below inside the box.

Next, go to www.samaritanspurse.org and download a label or labels for your box or boxes. Mark the correct age category on the label/s and tape the label to the top of your box. (If you wrap the box and lid make sure the label goes on after you’ve wrapped the lid.) If you do not have Internet access you can also make your own label by folding an 8-1/2 inch by 11 inch piece of writing paper (lined or plain) into thirds. Cut the paper into one-third pieces. Take one of the one-third pieces of paper and print whether the box is for a boy or girl and what age group the gifts are applicable for (ages 2 to 4 years-old, 5 to 9 years-old or 10 to 14 years-old).

Next, pack your box or boxes with your gifts.

Samaritan’s Purse asks that you please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. Write your check to Samaritan’s Purse noting “OCC” on the memo line of your check. Put your check in an envelope and place it 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. (You can also give online at www.samaritanspurse.org by using their EZGIVE option.)
Next, place the lid of your box/s on the box/s and put a rubber band around each closed shoe box.

Finally, take your box or boxes to the collection center nearest you during the collection week, which is November 16th through November 23rd. (See list of collection centers below.)

Suggested Gift Ideas for Shoeboxes

Toys such as small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, a small Etch A Sketch, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), a Slinky, etc.

School supplies such as pens, pencils and a sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

Hygiene items such as toothbrushs, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), combs, washcloths, etc.

Other gift ideas include 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 can also be included in the box with 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.)

Things NOT to Include In Shoe Boxes

Used or damaged items. War-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures. Out-of-date candy. Chocolate or food items. Liquids, lotions, medications or vitamins. Breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers. Aerosol cans.

Drop-off Locations for Operation

Christmas Child Shoe Boxes

NOVEMBER 16 to NOVEMBER 23

Southgate Church

9820 East Watson Road

Crestwood, MO 63126

Mon. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tue. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wed. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Thu. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fri. 10 a.m. to Noon.

Sat. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sun. Noon to 6 p.m.

Mon. 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Parker Road Baptist Church

2675 Parker Road

Florissant, MO 63033

Mon. & Tue. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wed. 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Thu. & Fri. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sat. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sun. 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Mon. 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

West Hills Community Church

13250 South Outer 40/61 Road

Town & Country, MO 63017

Mon. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tue. 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Wed. 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Thu. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fri. 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Sat. Noon to 5 p.m.

Sun. 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Mon. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Third Baptist Church

620 North Grand Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63103

Mon. Noon to 3 p.m.

Tue. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Wed. 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Thu. & Fri. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sat. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sun. Noon to 3 p.m.

Mon. 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Dardenne Presbyterian Church

7400 Highway N.

Dardenne Prairie, MO 63368

Mon. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tue. Noon to 4 p.m.

Wed. 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Thu. Noon to 4 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 9 a.m. to Noon.

Sun. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mon. 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Wentzville Christian Church

1507 Highway Z.

Wentzville, MO 63385

Mon. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tue. 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Wed. Noon to 5 p.m.

Thu. 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Fri. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sat. 9 a.m. to Noon.

Sun. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Mon. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lincoln County Relay Center

527 Bridgeway Drive

Troy, MO 63379

Mon. thru Thu. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Fri. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sat. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sun. 9 a.m. to Noon.

Mon. Not collecting.

New Florence Baptist Church

309 East Hudson Street

New Florence, MO 63361

Mon. thru Fri. 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Sat. 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Sun. 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Mon. Not collecting.

First Baptist Church of Festus-Crystal City

107 N. Truman Blvd.

Crystal City, MO 63019

Mon. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tue. Noon to 4 p.m.

Wed. 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Thu. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fri. Noon to 5 p.m.

Sat. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sun. 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Mon. 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

First Baptist of Union

801 East Highway 50

Union, MO 63084

Mon. Noon to 8 p.m.

Tue. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wed. 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Thu. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fri. Noon to 6 p.m.

Sat. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sun. Noon to 5 p.m.

Mon. 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Lion’s Club

600 West Street

New London, MO 63459

Mon. & Wed. 9 a.m. to Noon.

Tue. & Thu. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Fri. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sat. 9 a.m. to Noon.

Sun. 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Mon. Not collecting.

For more information regarding Samaritans Purse and their Operation Christmas Child, call 1-800-501-2716 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org.