A couple years ago we started the shoebox tradition with our kids. We decided against shopping at Wal Mart and instead make a separate trip to Dollar General for the children to shop. It's so much easier because the kids are able to focus in and get what we need without too much choice and getting overwhelmed. We shop for a child of their age and then just drop the shoe box off at our local church. Easy peasy. For $30 this year we filled both children's shoe boxes with toiletries (soap, wash cloths, toothbrush, toothpaste, combs, hair accessories, etc), at least 2 toys, crayons/stickers/coloring book, shorts & top, flip flops and a few other fun odds and ends (glue stick, suckers, etc.). I appreciate that Dollar General keeps their flip flops and summer clothes on clearance for a very long time so we are able to include them in our shoe boxes. It's a blessing to be able to use this time to teach our children about loving on others, not thinking of themselves, and giving. Xavier struggled this year with wanting to keep what he chose for his shoe box recipient but I forged ahead (telling him no and explaining why) and know that in years to come he'll "get" it and be grateful for this opportunity!
We will pay our shipping charge for the boxes online so that we can hopefully get an email update of where they traveled to.
Want to know what the amazing thing is? National collection week isn't for about 10 days so YOU still have time to pack a box. For $10-$15 you could make the day of a child in another world. Truly. Tell you what - if you want to pack a box but don't think you can afford to purchase the things for the box and pay for the $7 shipping charge get in touch with me. We'd be blessed to help you bless someone else.
We've been having a guest preacher at our home church the last several weeks and he told how he was IN one of the countries at Christmas when the shoe boxes came around one year. The children had to have an adult escort with them to come get their shoe boxes because they might be robbed on the way home. These boxes - filled with $10-$20 worth of items are considered WEALTH. RICHNESS. Just imagine it.
Would you pray with our family over the boxes as they travel out of America and into the hands of children everywhere? Pray that Christ surrounds the children and finds a way into their hearts.
Our 2012 OCC Shoe Boxes:
2 comments:
Do you have to get/use certain shoeboxes? It looks like the ones you used for both years are the same.
We use the shoe boxes that our church supplies because it's easier for us (we don't buy many shoes thru the years,but you can use any adult shoe box or a plastic shoe box sized tote.
If you use a "regular" one they ask that you wrap it (lid & box separately so it can still be opened) so we use these festive green/red ones from the church b/c it's less work for me.
-Jenn
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