We will be collecting items for Operation Christmas Child to help support Samaritan’s Purse International Relief. The shoeboxes are then distributed around the world where people may not know Christ and invite them to follow Him. Other churches use the boxes as resources for outreach in orphanages and other at-risk areas. In many places, they also offer The Greatest Gift, a Gospel story booklet Samaritan’s Purse developed for shoebox recipients. We will be collecting items until November 11th when we will pack shoeboxes. There will be a box in the narthex of the church to collect these items.

Things to collect:

• Doll• Comb• Hairbrush• Toothbrush• Washcloth• Bar soap (packaged and/or in a container)• Adhesive bandages• Reusable plastic containers: cup, water bottle • Flip-flops• Hat/scarf/mittens• Sunglasses• Tote bag/purse• Hair bows• Pencils• Small manual pencil sharpener• Colored pencils• 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]• Playdough • Skipping rope/Jump rope

Things not to include:

Candy; toothpaste; used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives, or military figures; chocolate or food; 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.

To learn more about Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child click on the link below

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/the-journey-of-a-shoebox/