By Neisha Roberts
The Alabama Baptist
Forty-four days, seven hours, 55 minutes and 30 seconds, 29, 28, 27.
At press time there was only a little more than a month and a half left before Samaritan’s Purse kicks off National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child (OCC).
In 2015 more than 11.2 million boxes were donated with more than 8.7 million coming from the United States.
Every year Alabama Baptists participate in the Christmastime shoebox ministry. Some churches even collect and organize shoeboxes of gifts throughout the year, like First Baptist Church, Monroeville; Mount Carmel Baptist Church, West Blocton; and Pisgah Baptist Church, Selma, to name a few.
With a well-organized plan, any Alabama Baptist church or individual can take part in the 2016 OCC effort, which begins Nov. 14.
Samaritanspurse.org and Pinterest make collecting, packing and sending each shoebox stress-free with thorough instructions and a surplus of creative ideas.
Tips for OCC boxes
Here are some tips from various online sources:
•Get an empty shoebox to pack and decide on if it will be for a boy or girl.
•Select a “wow” toy such as a doll, soccer ball and pump or stuffed animal.
•Fill the box with other fun toys, hygiene items and school supplies (like toy cars, harmonicas, balls, jump ropes, toothbrushes, bars of soap, combs, pens, pencils, crayons, glitter, glue sticks, erasers, notebooks, back pack).
•You also can include items like socks, scarves, bracelets, a small sewing kit, yarn, watercolor paint set, kaleidoscope, binoculars, lip gloss, silly putty, finger puppets, straws, plastic cups, Post-it notes or hacky sacks.
•Each box could have a theme, like a sewing box with scissors, fabric, buttons, simple patterns and thread, or a fishing box with items like fishing line, weights, plastic worms and a small fishing net.
•Do not include damaged items, chocolate, food, liquids, medications, vitamins, breakable items or war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures.
•Discover the destination for your box through Follow Your Box online, at samaritanspurse.org. First donate $7 to receive a special label and then Samaritan’s Purse will track the box for you.
•Pray for the child who will receive your gift.
•Include a personal note and photo.
•Take your shoebox to a local drop-off location during National Collection Week. Visit samaritanspurse.org to see a listing of locations.
A sample calendar for collecting items all year could look like this:
March: Craft supplies and toys
April: Hygiene items
May: Boy items
June: Girl items
July: Clothing/accessories
August: School supplies
September: Warm clothing items
October: Candy and toys
Many Alabama Baptist churches also host “packing parties” in the fall as a time to fellowship and pray over all the donated shoeboxes.
Packing parties
For example Pintlala Baptist Church, Hope Hull, laid out boy or girl tags in the church hall for members to pick up and begin packing a box for. They have a goal of 200 boxes for 2016 and will host “Pack a Box Party” on Nov. 6 at 12:10 p.m.
Beulah Baptist Church, Boaz, also will host a packing party Nov. 13 at 6 p.m.
Elba Baptist Church collected toothbrushes and toothpaste in September and will collect hairbrushes, combs, bows, ribbons and ponytail holders in October. Church members also have a goal of raising $1,400 for postage needs.
But beyond sending a fun box filled with toys and items a child may need, OCC shoeboxes have the potential to make an eternal impact.
“As shoeboxes are distributed, local pastors or church leaders present the gospel in a fun way designed for kids while family and friends listen in,” according to Samaritan’s Purse. “Along with their shoebox gift, children also receive ‘The Greatest Gift,’ a colorful (written) presentation of the gospel in their own language.
“In the hands of local churches, every gift-filled shoebox is a powerful tool for evangelism and discipleship.”
Share with others: