Operation Christmas Child

The lady rounding the corner of the clearance aisle saw me adding more Crayola Crayons to my shopping cart. She asked, “Shopping for Operation Christmas Child?” “Yes. Stock up on school supplies now when the price is 70 to 90 percent off,” I said and picked up boxes of colored pencils. “I like to get beach towels. The child can use it as a blanket or a towel,” she said. “How do you do that?” I asked, thinking of the size of the shoeboxes.“If I roll them up tight and use rubber bands to hold them, I can still get in a doll or ball,” she assured me.“That’s a good idea,” I said and went to look at the towels. Every time I enter a store, I scan the shelves for deep discounts on cool stuff for the kids in other countries.Operation Christmas Child began in 1993 with a goal to fill shoeboxes full of small toys to send to children in war-torn Bosnia. From 28,000 boxes the first year, it has grown to last year’s 11.9 million boxes filled and shipped around the world Recently, I attended an area OCC information meeting. The coordinators emphasized making the boxes fun, full and personal. If your child or grandchild would enjoy an item, add it to the box and keep adding until it takes a rubber band to hold the lid down. Before closing the box, add a personal touch: a note or picture of yourself. The event included a race to pack boxes to demonstrate “fun, full and personal.” Our team won points for stuffing a child’s plastic cup with pencils, pens and a toothbrush. Going to the OCC information meeting also opens opportunities for sharing ideas, experiences and just the fun of preparing the boxes. At the craft table, I talked with a woman who has sewn simple little dresses. “What else can we make?” she asked. I listed the shorts, doll blankets, tote bags and draw string bags we have made. Folks handy with tools make little toys. Then, individually or at a group packing party, we fill the boxes first with prayer then toys, hygiene items, a fun WOW gift, school supplies and a picture or note from the sender. We bless the filled box ready to send. Then, according to one video, the shoeboxes go to a local collection spot to be loaded onto a semi-truck and taken to the processing centers where volunteers check boxes and add fillers if needed. Volunteers unpack and inspect every box to ensure the boxes will clear any country’s customs and cultural nuances. They also remove breakable items, liquids, soap, toothpaste and anything relating to war.Next the boxes go into shipping containers to travel to their destination country. I always find it fascinating to see the pictures of the boxes at the receiving country. Men transfer them to small trucks, canoes, horses, wagons, or the backs of llamas or camels to carry to children in cities or remote villages. Before the boxes arrive for the children, the local church invites and prepares for an unpacking party which might include children from pre-schoolers to early teens. The boxes of fun catch the attention of the children. The party event includes an invitation to attend 12 weekly Bible classes about Jesus. Samaritan’s Purse (the parent organization) has translated the lessons into 100 languages.Although the 11.9 million boxes delivered last year sounds like a lot, Samaritan’s Purse says that each child will only receive one box in their life. Still every 60 seconds six children receive their box along with a Gospel message in their language. All of this explains my pursuit for deeply discounted bargains all year long. I like to fill those shoeboxes with the good stuff.