My work is participating in Operation Christmas Child this year, and I was wondering if any of you would be interested in participating?! You decorate a shoe box and fill it with toys, candy, socks, etc. for children in need. You choose a girl or boy and the age groups are: 2-4, 5-9, 10-14 I have labels to put on the boxes for the specific age groups and genders. Ideas for inside the box include: School supplies: Pens, pencils and sharpeners, crayons or markers, stamps and innk pads, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc. Toys: small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinkys, etc. Hygiene Items: toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc. Other: hard candy and lollipops, mints, gum (please place all candy in ziploc bag), T-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlighs (with extra batteries), etc. A Personal Note: You may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.) DO NOT INCLUDE:b> USED OR DAMAGED ITEMS, WAR-RELATED ITEMS SUCH AS TOY GUNS, KNIVES, OR MILITARY FIGURES, CHOCOLATE OR FOOD, OUT OF DATE CANDY, LIQUIDS OR LOTIONS, MEDICATIONS OR VITAMINS, BREAKABLE ITEMS SUCH AS SNOWGLOBES OR GLASS CONTAINTERS, AEROSOL CANS. Generally you have to donate $7 for shipping, but if you give me your boxes my work will ship them and cover all shipping prices. I was thinking of having a box decorating day!! I think it would be fun to get together and do this together. I was hoping for November 18th at noon until 3 pm. You will need to bring your own shoe boxes, inside items, and craft supplies. I am hoping to get some wrapping paper, etc. I am also accepting donations of items to put inside the boxes, shoe boxes, wrapping paper, and other craft supplies.  

oops. it wasn't supposed to stay bolded and and underlined. LOL. only the "do not include" part was supposed to be. OOPS. LOL 

I would love to participate. I don't think I'd be able to make it to the get together b/c I'm about to POP but I'd love to donate! At my school when I was little we did an angel tree each year! Let me know where I could drop off the box and when! Also, I'd like to do 2-4yr girl. (I want my daughter to help me pick the things out is why that age group!) 

I'll do a get together! and I have boxes, and I'll donate wrappin paper. So all we need is the stuff to go inside :D 

Jess- that would be awesome!!! Do you live on base or in town? Leah and I will have drop off points at our houses. =] Leah lives on base and I in town... just let us know which would be more convenient and one of us will PM you the address. 

Where are they being shipped? 

Are they staying here in the states? 

I'd like to know to, you said "ship" them... Where are they going? 

Operation Christmas Child is about sending gifts to third world countries in hopes of bringing peace or hope to the children over there. It is founded by Samaritans Purse, and here is some more info: http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/?q=pages/what-occ 

Honestly I think we need to do first for the children in America.That is just my opinion.I am NOT in anyway against foreign country,my mom is from one.But there are so many children and adults here that could use the help.. Please do not take this in a bad way it isen't meant that way... 

I just know that I have the information and the outlet to do it and that is why I chose to do this. I am doing regardless if people choose to participate because people are people and people everywhere need help. I would appreciate the help from anyone who would like to participate. 

Paige, I'd like to help. Let me know what to do. Carel, I understand where you are coming from, but I have heard nothing but good about Samaritan's Purse. I am really picky about where I help out as I want money & items to go to people in need. If anyone knows of what we are doing for kids here as well please post. I love this time of year cause I love giving. 

Of course there is Angels tree that helps people here in america :D 

Angel Tree is great I support them every year. You buy a present and it gets given to a child whose parent is in Prison from the dad. I haven't heard where you pick up stars with the kids info, does anyone know? 

Angel Tree is great I support them every year. You buy a present and it gets given to a child whose parent is in Prison from the dad or mom. I haven't heard where you pick up stars with the kids info, does anyone know? 

Thank you Christine! We are in need of anything. Shoe boxes, toys, etc. Anything helps! My house is the in town drop off point. We are also having a box decorating day on the 18th. Let me know if you are interested in coming to that. 

I know this is funny, but I don't own any shoe boxes. We did something like this in the past & bought the rubbermaid/plastic shoe boxes so that the kids had something reuseable, would this work? 

Yes it would, but it has to be standard size. I only have a couple of shoe boxes and am posting a flyer at work asking for shoe box donations. =] The top and bottom have to be wrapped separately though which makes me wonder how the plastic ones will close entirely. 

I have boxes :D Like, 20 of them LOL 

Ok it sounds like we need to use shoe boxes and we will have to raid Leahs closet, lol 

It does say you can use the plastic ones and those are the ones Leah has. I have like 3 SHOE boxes! =] 

We are moving to Holloman is a couple of weeks and I would love to participate. When do you need the gifts by so you can ship them? I was just telling my hubby yesterday that I heard about this organization on T.V. and thought it would be a wonderful experience for my children to help other children who are less fortunate. We are moving to Holloman Thanksgiving weekend, so please let me know if we can still participate in this wonderful act of kindness. Thanks 

Paige I feel my comment has upset you.I didn't say it to pis_ anyone off.I was just stating MY opinion.Just because someone has a different opinion doesn't mean they don't agree with what you are doing.Yes kids are kids no matter where they live or what color they are I agree with that. What I was saying is that there are so many kids and elderly here in the states they are also going without(for whatever reason). As an advocate I have seen so many of our children and adults go without.They use to give out commodities here to those in need but they stopped it and started sending the food to other countries to help them.We also give out free medical to other countries but yet so many of our elderly suffer cuz they can't afford medical.We send clothes to other countries(which I have also help do)but yet so many of our children and elderly don't even have jackets.Look at our homeless.I have never seen the third world countries offer to help our children,elderly or homeless.I have seen so many(even right here in alamo)suffer as much as the third world countries are.I have seen our seniors standing for hours in the commodity line(when they had it) just to get cornmeal etc,and so happy when they get up there a see that they have included some type of can meat.That was a luxury to them. I have no problem helping and I will because yes I do believe children are children. 

Carel, I felt as if you were saying you would not help because it was not our country. I do understand that there are needy people in our country as well. I would love to help with an organization that serves our country, just as I would love to help Operation Christmas Child. I have heard of Angel Tree and I think we should donate to both causes. 

Paige I apologize if I came off that way I certainly didn't mean that. I would help anyone anyway possible if there is any way that I could.That's just me...(crazy) It's a deal we will donate to both causes..LOL 

Sonia- The National collection week is November 16th to 23rd.I know there are are other drop off points in the U.S. If you go to www.samaritanspurse.org you can see where else you can take boxes. 

Paige- Thank you, I am going to use a drop off point in Florida while we are vacationing at Disney World for a couple of days. I would love to help you next time you do this. 

Sonia, we do things like this all the time. I know you won't be here this time, but to give an example we will be going to an elderly folks home this Sunday to help them make Christmas cards that we will send overseas to the military members serving in Iraq. Stuff like that :D 

Sonia, we do things like this all the time. I know you won't be here this time, but to give an example we will be going to an elderly folks home this Sunday to help them make Christmas cards that we will send overseas to the military members serving in Iraq. Stuff like that :D 

Is there anything we can do for those Military families in texas? Could u let us know.