OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
| Published: 13th August 2007 18:28 |
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
What is Operation Christmas Child?
This annual project enables caring individuals, families, schools, churches, businesses, and other organisations to fill ordinary shoe boxes with small toys, school supplies, sweets, and other gifts for needy children around the world.
Operation Christmas Child sends a message of hope to children in need around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes.
Operation Christmas Child is the world's largest children's Christmas project. Since 1990 the project has brought the joy of Christmas to more than 47 million boys and girls throughout the world. Last year we sent 1.24 million shoe boxes from the UK to children in hospitals, orphanages, Internally Displaced Persons camps, homeless shelters and impoverished neighbourhoods. With your help we want to reach even more children in the poorest parts of the world in 2007.
Your gift is powerful
Your shoe box will make a child feel special and valued, and let them know that you care about them. Choosing gifts and then wrapping and filling a shoe box is a fun and rewarding activity for all the family - especially whenyou know these gifts are going to be used and treasured.
From you to a child in need
Your shoe box will be hand delivered to a child in need, asking nothing from them in return. All boxes are given to the neediest children regardless of nationality, political background or religious beliefs. Operation Christmas Child empowers local overseas partners to ensure that your shoe boxes are delivered with the highest levels of integrity and respect. Where appropriate and in culturally sensitive ways, our local overseas partners will make available a booklet of Bible stories, which gives a message of hope and includes an explanation of the true meaning of Christmas - God's gift of His Son, Jesus.
Packing your shoe box is simple
All you need to do is follow the instructions on this website or in our promotional leaflet and give your shoe box to your nearest Drop Off Point. Or give your boxes to the group leader who is organising your collection (often a school, church or community group). Your box will then be processed by our volunteers and sent to its destination to be distributed through local overseas churches and charities.
Encourage your friends at your church, school or workplace to get involved. Your gift will encourage a child in ways you could never imagine.
Filling a Box
How to pack your shoe box
Find an empty medium-size shoe box, approximately 18 x 30 x 13cm, (we reserve the right to split boxes which are too large). Wrap the lid and box seperately in wrapping paper.
Stickers and leaflets will be available from Natures Bounty - 84, Queen Street, Newton Abbot
Decide if your gift is for a boy or girl. Tick the appropriate age box on the boy or girl sticker. Stick the label to the outside of the lid - on the top right as you would a stamp on a letter. You will need to tape the label to the box
Fill the shoe box with the gifts - suggestions below.
PLEASE DO NOT wrap any items individually.
Complete your details on the donation form and enclose £2 with the form in an envelope and seal it, or you can pay for your donation online. Place your donation envelope or online donation slip on top of the contents so that it will be clearly visible when the box is opened. IMPORTANT Please enclose £2 or more towards distribution, transport, processing and promotion.
Please secure the lid with an elastic band, and DO NOT seal the box as it will need to be checked to ensure it meets Customs requirements.
Please ensure that your boxes get to us in good time before the end of the Operation Christmas Child campaign. This years campaign dates are the 4th-20th of November 2007.
What to Pack- Gift ideas
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All items should be new. Please include items from each category. Remember to make your box both FUN and EDUCATIONAL!
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TOYS - something to love |
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DO NOT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
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Individuals and small groups
The 4th -20th of November are the only dates that you may take shoe boxes to our Drop-off Points. After the 2nd of October you will be able to find details of your nearest Drop-Off Point on our website or by phoning 0870 011 2002 or 01993 770 652. (Both these numbers can be used to call our OCC helpline, which number is cheapest to use will depend on your telephone supplier.)
Your nearest drop off point:
St Paul's Church
Devon Square
Newton Abbot
Devon
TQ12 2HN
Distance : 0.09 Miles
Open Mon - Thu 10am - 12.30pm. Phone number 01626 334 357.
Or you may leave them at
Natures Bounty
84, Queen Street
Newton Abbot
Tel: 01626 367050
