Linky Give a child Christmas Comments 0 | Recommend 0 November 11, 2009 6:00 AM Through Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project, Jacksonville residents are packing shoe box gifts for children in more than 100 countries suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty. Fill shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items, hard candy and a letter of encouragement. Shoe boxes may be dropped off Nov. 16 to 23 at the New River Baptist Association, 2734 Commerce Road in Jacksonville, from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday and 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Monday Nov. 23. This year, organizers hope to collect 4,000 gift-filled shoe boxes from families, kids, churches, schools and civic organizations in the area. Operation Christmas Child uses tracking technology that allows donors to “follow your box” to the destination country where it will be hand-delivered to a child in need. To register shoe box gifts and find out what country they are delivered to, use the EZ Give donation form found here.  

I think this is a swell idea. 

sorry i am a part of toys 4 tots, i like that organization better 

Really Sox? You're so dumb. Doop do they have a more defined list posted anywhere? Shoe boxes aren't very big :( Are they gi ving boxes of different things out by age or do all the kids just get a random box? Sorry for all the questions. 

Ps: I'm not too lazy to look it up myself. I'm just on my phone so I can't. 

Really Sox? You're so dumb. Why is she dumb for doing toys for tots ? 

1. SHOE BOX PRINT THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND LABELS Click to download. Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift. 2. BOY OR GIRL? Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label by downloading the artwork to the right. Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box. 3. FILL WITH GIFTS Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child. Use the gift ideas provided on the bottom of this page. 4. INCLUDE YOUR DONATION Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using our EZGIVE option, or you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation. 5. DROP OFF Video Place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop off at the Collection Center nearest you during our collection week November 16 - 23. For locations and hours of collection visit our Drop-Off Locations page where you can find the nearest place to take your shoe box by entering your ZIP Code or you can call 1-800-353-5949. You can also send your shoe box gift to: Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child 801 Bamboo Road Boone, NC 28607 

I do Toys for Tots and when we lived in VA, did a Secret Santa List that Family Services provided. Nothing wrong with sending gifts outside the Country, but we have a kazillion kids here in the USA who could use Christmas gifts also. 

I've got a ton of shoe boxes if anyone needs them.... like 20. I'll go out today and get things to fill a few. 

link title If you follow that link, when you are able, there's directions and a video you can watch, too. 

Really Sox? You're so dumb. so not nice...:( 

Sox is dumb because just because you donate to Toys 4 Tots doesn't mean you can't donate to something else to. To say you prefer one charity over another who is doing something completely different is dumb. 

I only donate to certain charities. I only have so much to give.... 

Thanks DMC for the info! Ill stop while I'm out and pick up some stuff :) PS: we give to Toys 4 Tots too! Lol 

I'd like to do something local. For a family that wouldn't otherwise get anything for Christmas. Where can I find out about something like that? 

Skooch that's understandable. Its impossible to give to all of them. You didn't come in here and snub this charity just because you don't want to or are unable to give due to prior commitment though. I wasn't rude. Sox was rude. 

I'd like to do something local. For a family that wouldn't otherwise get anything for Christmas. Where can I find out about something like that? There are angel trees at the mall, right? I am pretty sure that's for local children but don't take my word for it, lol. 

Katie contact social services. They have a county program too. I think it might. Be more what you're looking for :) 

I'd like to do something local. For a family that wouldn't otherwise get anything for Christmas. Where can I find out about something like that? Contact a church in the area. A lot of time, they run the "Angel Trees" that you can adopt a whole family. 

Skooch that's understandable. Its impossible to give to all of them. You didn't come in here and snub this charity just because you don't want to or are unable to give due to prior commitment though. No I'd never snub another charity, they are all for a good cause. I give to March of Dimes (because I know what it's like to have an early baby be sick) and we try to do the Angel Tree. I also like to bring toys and supplies to churches, for use in their nurseries. 

jcpenney.com is doing something with angel tree, you can pick a local child to adopt for Christmas. i'm gonna make my kids do it, they're so selfish sometimes. i like this Operation Christmas Child, too. 

DMC you would know the answer to this - doesn't the county program usually post all of the families stories in the newspaper each week? I think they did last year. 

Christmas Cheer Sponsorship That's not through a church or the Angel Trees. 

Wonderful! Thanks TM! I didn't really know where to start. We usually do something for members of my Moms church... 

sorry i am a part of toys 4 tots, i like that organization better You can do both, I'm going to. 

DMC you would know the answer to this - doesn't the county program usually post all of the families stories in the newspaper each week? I think they did last year. I do believe they do, and was going to suggest to start watching the newspaper. Usually someone will post it here, too. 

Exactly, we used to do the whole family. And, we'd always bring them a whole Christmas meal with the gifts. I love seeing that something so small like that can make people so happy. I think every child deserves to have a happy Christmas. 

I like to adopt the elderly families for Christmas. They never want for much. Just basic necessities or somebody to talk to. It breaks my heart. 

HappyMomma actually posted the link for what the newspaper prints. Katie, you can also usually donate through your husband's unit. I know most do baskets of some sort, usually with food/gift certificates, for some of the Marines who might be struggling. I know with my husband's units, they had to be nominated by a SNCO. So it normally wasn't someone who said "Oh, I need some help" when they didn't truly need it. 

We do T4T and the Angel Tree... Instead of buying for me, I ask my parents to do the Angel Tree kids from Shopko back home... When I was in foster care, I was on those trees... I try to give back now.