For the love of a child...

Each year around this time, thousands of shoe boxes are sent overseas to orphanages, villages, and other locations where there are children who are much less fortunate than here in the United States. Our church participates in this ministry called Operation Christmas Child. It is organized by Samaritan's Purse and there are drop-off locations all over the country. For those of you who haven't heard about it, here's the idea...You take a shoe box or small plastic box and fill it with fun items and toys for either a boy/girl at a designated age group. You can include hygiene items, craft supplies, hard candy, toys, stuffed animals, etc. It doesn't really matter as long as you can fit it in the box.

This year our small group has set forth a challenge: For the small group in our church that can bring in the most boxes, we will fix them breakfast, lunch or dinner (depending on when their small group meets). On our own, our small group of 5 couples has pledged to create 20 boxes (2 boys & 2 girls from each couple). Hubby & I headed to Walmart last night to get all the little goodies for our boxes. We spent forever trying to find just the right things that we knew children who have nothing would enjoy. For the girls we got lipgloss, fingernail polish, a small stuffed animal, jewelry, crayons, paper, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. & for the boys we did Matchbox cars, jacks, playdough, crayons, paper, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. We had such a great time and it warms my heart to think about all the children opening these boxes from strangers all around the world. We are so fortunate here in the United States and sometimes I know I take it all for granted.

If you are interested in helping out or joining in, just click on the link above and it will give you all the details you need including drop off locations by area code.