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This month we will kick off a new outreach project:
Operation Christmas Child.
The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Through this project, Samaritan’s Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations. Operation Christmas Child delivers great joy and the Good News of Jesus Christ to children in need around the world through gift-filled shoeboxes. Each box packed full of quality toys, school supplies, and personal care items becomes a tangible expression of God's immense love for the child. For many, it is their first gift ever! Delivered by our local church partners, shoebox gifts provide an opportunity to present the Gospel to boys and girls in a clear, child-friendly way. We will be providing boxes to children of all ages including babies. In September each week Slash will highlight an item the church will collect for this project and return to the church. In October the church at the fall festival will host a “packing party” for all to join in the fun and pack the boxes for distribution in November. See schedule below and item suggestions.
Week of September 3rd : School Supply Items
• Pencils • Small manual pencil sharpener • Colored pencils • Pencil case
• Crayons • Markers • Pens • Coloring pads • Coloring books • Picture book
• Notebooks • Glue stick (Do not include liquid glue.) • Small adhesive tape
• Watercolor set [Finger paint palette/crayons/markers (non-liquid containers), paint brushes, canvas or paper] • Make-it-yourself craft items or kit • Playdough (Consider adding plastic cookie cutters as non-sharp utensils the child can use with the playdough.)
• Stickers • Blank index cards • Solar-powered calculator • Safety (blunt tip) scissors
• Ruler • Protractor • Small adhesive tape
Week of September 10th: Personal Care Item
• Comb • Hairbrush • Toothbrush • Washcloth • Adhesive bandages (Colorful ones can help a child be more willing to wear a bandage. Do not include liquid antibiotic ointment)
• Reusable plastic containers: cup, water bottle, plate, bowl, blunt-edged utensils (Consider filling an empty container with non-liquid items such as hair bows, bracelets, sunglasses, or washcloths to maximize the space) • Blanket • Non-liquid lip balm
• Flashlight (solar-powered or hand-crank; if battery operated, please include extra batteries) • Nail clipper & file • Stick deodorant
Week of September 17th: Wow Item
• Doll • Soccer ball (Make sure to include a manual air pump.) • Stuffed animal
• Small musical instrument (such as a harmonica or woodwind recorder)
• Foam ball • Kickball (Make sure to include a manual air pump.) • Finger puppets • Slinky • Small kite • Etch a Sketch® • Interactive toys that include push buttons, lights, noise (include extra batteries) • Small Frisbee • Hacky sack • Toy cars • Baseball and mitt • Tennis ball• Skipping rope/Jump rope • Backpack • Puzzles • Binoculars • Compass
• Chalkboard and chalk • Sewing kit, fabric (1-2 yards), and ribbon • Laminated decorative pictures with looped ribbon attached as a picture hanger • Gardening kit with gloves and trowel hand tool (Do not include gardening seeds.) • Playing cards • Skipping rope/Jump rope • Tool set with work gloves • Fishing kit • Brightly colored rope or twine • Magnets
• Kaleidoscope • Playing cards • Marbles
Week of September 24th: Clothing & Accessory Item
• Shirts and pants • Pillowcase dress (loose-fitting sundress) • Underwear • Shoes and socks • Flip-flops • Hat/scarf/mittens • Sunglasses • Tote bag/purse • Hair bows • Friendship bracelets (woven with yarn or embroidery thread) • Wrist watch • Bandana
• Bead jewelry/bead kit • Hair accessories (clips, ribbons, elastic hair bands, etc.)
*All items must fit in the shoebox we are providing
*Reminder: Do Not Include
Candy; toothpaste; gum; used or damaged items; scary or war-related items (toy guns, knives, or military figures); chocolate or food; seeds; fruit rolls or other fruit snacks; drink mixes (powdered or liquid); liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans.
You can also choose to build a shoebox independently. See Torrie Goodman or Justin Moyer if you would like a shoebox to fill and return back to the church.
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