IDEAS & RESOURCES GUIDE

OCCtoberNATIONAL COLLECTION MONTH

SINCE 1993, MORE THAN 147 MILLION BOYS AND GIRLS IN OVER 150 NATIONS have experienced God’s unconditional love as they receive Operation Christmas Child

shoebox gifts donated through individuals, families, schools, businesses and other groups.

Shoebox gifts are for children in need, regardless of their background or religious belief. Each shoebox is a gift of love that tells a child they are not forgotten.

We invite your family, business or community group to participate in Operation Christmas Child this year and bring Good News and Great Joy to children in developing countries.

PROCESSING CENTRE VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDAnyone aged 16 years and older can volunteer in one of our seasonal processing centres, helping to inspect shoeboxes and prepare them for shipment to a child overseas.

There are seven Shoebox Processing Centres across Australia and New Zealand.

TIPS FOR FAMILIES• Use Operation Christmas Child as an opportunity

to teach your kids about children of other cultures, languages and world religions. Choose one of the destination countries to study. Research the customs, flag, geography, and current events.

• Write a note and include a photo of your family in your shoebox. Download the Colouring Page from operationchristmaschild.org.au/resources or operationchristmaschild.org.nz/resources for your children to colour in and place in the box.

• Set a shoebox goal: how many shoeboxes do you want to fill? Will there be a theme? Will your children help pay for the gifts? What special things do you want to put in your shoeboxes?

• Go shopping as a family to pick out the gifts you want to put in your shoebox. See our ‘How to Pack Your Shoebox’ guide on page four for gift suggestions.

• Visit the post office to teach your kids about the $10 donation per box. Find out how much it would cost you to send a shoebox to another country.

• Pray as a family for the kids who will receive your shoeboxes.

• Discover the destination of your shoebox gift through Follow Your Box online. You will receive an email revealing the country that your shoebox is going to.

• Show your children videos of kids receiving the boxes from operationchristmaschild.org.au/videos

TIPS FOR BUSINESSES• Host an Operation Christmas Child lunch. Employees can

bring empty shoeboxes and filler items, or the business can provide filler items.

• Give an Operation Christmas Child brochure to each employee, with a note that tells where and when to drop off their shoebox gifts. You can order free brochures at operationchristmaschild.org.au/resources OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz/resources

• Send an email or circulate a memo explaining the project and how to get involved. Provide a link to operationchristmaschild.org.au OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz

• Arrange for your staff team to process shoeboxes in one of our processing centres as part of your workplace Community Engagement Program. Sign up online at operationchristmaschild.org.au/volunteer OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz/volunteer

TIPS FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS• Promote Operation Christmas Child in

retirement communities

• Host a Shoebox Packing Party. Supply empty shoeboxes for every attendee. Ask people to bring filler items for their boxes to share with each other

• Invite an Operation Christmas Child representative to speak about the project

• Have members write personal notes to the children who will receive their shoebox gifts

• Arrange for your group to process shoeboxes in one of our processing centres. Sign up online at operationchristmaschild.org.au/volunteer OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz/volunteer

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GET INVOLVED

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Why do we ask for a $10 donation with each shoebox?

Operation Christmas Child distributes hundreds of thousands of shoeboxes each year free of charge to disadvantaged children overseas. For most of these kids, it is the first gift they have ever received.

But did you know it costs approximately $10 per box for the freight, overseas partner costs, local rents, personnel, advertising and administration of this program? Your $10 donation per box covers these costs, enabling us to continue sending gift-filled shoeboxes to kids in need!

When and where can I hand in my shoeboxes?

In Australia and New Zealand, OCCTOBER is National Collection Month.

Go to operationchristmaschild.org.au/dops OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz/dops to view a full list of Drop Off Points.

What is Operation Christmas Child?

The world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, Operation Christmas Child uses gift-filled shoeboxes to share God’s love in a tangible way with impoverished kids.

Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has globally collected and delivered more than 147 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in over 150 countries.

What is The Greatest Journey?

Children who receive Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes have an opportunity to enrol in The Greatest Journey, our 12-lesson discipleship program, with their parent’s permission. Led by trained local teachers, children become grounded in their faith and learn how to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others.

Children who complete the course receive a graduation certificate, and a New Testament in their own language. A monthly gift of just $10 can provide all of the materials needed to disciple 12 children a year.

Order or download the following resources at operationchristmaschild.org.au/resources OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz/resources

• Cartons of 25 pre-printed shoeboxes may be ordered online for $12.50.

• Additional FREE materials including brochures and posters for your Operation Christmas Child promotional campaign may be ordered online.

• Download flyers, shoebox gift ideas and other resources.

• Download activity pages for kids to colour in and include in their shoeboxes.

GROUP RESOURCES

FAQS

OCCtoberNATIONAL COLLECTION MONTH

LEARN MORE ABOUT OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD ON OUR WEBSITE!Donate $10 per box: operationchristmaschild.org.au/shoeboxdonations

Order and download resources: operationchristmaschild.org.au/resources

Source stories: operationchristmaschild.org.au/stories

Watch videos: operationchristmaschild.org.au/videos

Find your nearest Drop Off Point: operationchristmaschild.org.au/dops

Volunteer with us: operationchristmaschild.org.au/volunteer

SHOEBOX: Order your pre-printed shoeboxes online or use a regular size shoebox with a lid no larger than an A4 page.

OTHER GIFTS: Fill the shoebox with other fun toys, hygiene items, and school supplies.

DONATE $10 PER BOX: A donation of $10 per box is critical to cover shipping and other project costs. For easy processing you can give online and use our Follow Your Box feature to discover the country destination of your shoebox!

DROP OFF: Take your shoebox gift to a local drop-off location during National Collection Month, OCCtober. Visit our website from 1 October to find a location near you.

“WOW” ITEM: Select a quality “wow” toy such as a doll, soccer ball with pump, or stuffed animal to bless a child.

P lease remember that your shoebox may be the only gift the child ever receives

of this kind. So, plan to pack quality items that will last.

PRAY: Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift. Include a personal note and photo to delight the heart of a child.

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AS YOU PRAYERFULLY PREPARE TO PACK YOUR SHOEBOX GIFT…

To learn more visit operationchristmaschild.org.au

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ITEMS THAT MELT OR LEAK: liquid paint; toothpaste; shampoo; aerosol cans; bubbles; crayons; plasticine/playdough FOOD OR LOLLIES: including medicine; vitamins USED OR DAMAGED ITEMS: used clothes; old toys BREAKABLE ITEMS: glass; porcelain; mirrors SCARY OR GAMBLING ITEMS: war-related items; toy guns, knives; military figures; skull and crossbones; Halloween items; play money; playing cards; dominoes RELIGIOUS LITERATURE: tracts and Bibles (children are given an Operation Christmas Child evangelistic book at an outreach event).

DO NOT INCLUDE

• Soccer ball with pump • Doll • Stuffed animal • Shoes

“WOW” ITEM

• Toy car • Skipping rope • Yo-yo • Toy that lights up and makes noise (with extra batteries)

• Toothbrushes • Bar soap • Washcloths • Combs

• Pens, pencils, sharpeners, erasers and markers • Notebooks and paper • Colouring and picture books • Solar calculators

• Socks • Sunglasses • Jewellery or watches • Flashlights (with extra batteries)

NON-LIQUID HYGIENE ITEMS

TOYS

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

ACCESSORIES

SHOEBOX GIFT IDEAS

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AUSTRALIADonations and Enquiries: 1300 884 468operationchristmaschild.org.au Samaritan’s Purse Australasia-Operation Christmas Child ABN: 80 162 895 623

NEW ZEALANDDonations and Enquiries: 0800 726 274operationchristmaschild.org.nzSamaritan’s Purse Australia Ltd. ABN: 84 070 722 404 NZ CCRN: CC36649

DROP-OFF POINTSDrop-off points will be open from 1st - 31st October.

Call us on 1300 884 468 (AU) or 0800 726 274 (NZ) for Processing Centre locations and open hours.

Go to operationchristmaschild.org.au/dops or operationchristmaschild.org.nz/dops to find your nearest location.