Operation Christmas Child 2017

Well, it is that time of year again...

Time for Operation Christmas Child!!!

Operation Christmas Child is an annual shoebox present collection, where people can fill a shoebox (or a box of similar size) with items for children, who may not otherwise get anything.

Here are some ideas of what you can put in your shoebox presents:

• Dolls
• Stuffed animal toys
• Jump ropes
• Embroidery floss
• Beads
• Wash cloths
• Bar soap
• Notebooks
• Pens
• Pencils
• Markers
• Crayons
• Colored pencils
• Pencil sharpeners
• Coloring books
• Matching games
• Paper
• Sports/bouncy balls
• Solar calculators
• Hats
• Gloves/mittens
• Scarves
• Play jewelry
• Cups
• Bowls
• Water bottles
• Yo-yos
• Drawstring bags
• Rulers
• Picture books (for the younger children)
• Dry erase boards with dry erase pens
• Mini chalkboards with chalk
• Toothbrushes
• Watercolor paint sets and paintbrushes
• Hair brushes or combs
• Toy cars
• Puzzles
• Stickers
• Checkers sets
• Socks
• Recorders
• Harmonicas
• Flashlights and batteries
• Clothes line and clothes pins (for older girls)
• Pillowcase dresses (you can find more about this HERE)
• Flip flops
• T-shirts
• Post-It Notes
• Backpacks
• Straws
• Hair ties
• Band-Aids
• Binoculars
• Fishing tools
• Handkerchiefs
• Watches
• Plastic magnifying glasses
• Small sewing kits
• Personal hygiene items for boys, girls (for older children)
• Purses (for older girls)
• Barrettes, hair clips
• Headbands
• A handwritten note (optional, but very special to the child who receives it)
• Pencil cases/pouches (or empty makeup bags that they can use for carrying whatever they want)
• Handmade items (toys, dolls, clothing, etc.)

They are in most need of boxes for boys ages 10-14, so if you can, please send at least one shoebox present for that age group (although, you can choose which age group and gender you would like to pack boxes for!).

You are NOT allowed to put in liquids, war related toys (soldiers, swords, etc.), out of date foods/candy, breakables, lotions, toothpaste, and anything else of this nature.

They have an annual collection week in November (you can find your closest drop-off location HERE), but you can drop of/ship presents all year round to:

Operation Christmas Child
801 Bamboo Road
Boone NC 28607

To find out more, you can check out the links to Operation Christmas Child and Samaritan's Purse. You can even order free materials HERE.