Operation Christmas Child Stories

I meant to share this a few weeks ago but I have not gotten a chance yet.  You all know we participated in Operation Christmas Child for the second time this year!  We went to drop off our two shoe boxes on our way to Birmingham for Thanksgiving.  Our drop off point was a large church in Auburn and I asked the ladies if I could take a few pictures while I was there and they were so nice and said "of course"!  So I wanted to share with ya'll and show you.

These are boxes that are full waiting to be picked up to travel all over the world

 

Checking my two (green boxes) o.k. so they are a little full but she had rubberbands to go around them

My boxes with some  others waiting to loaded up to start their journey to make a child smile

Discard my face!  I just wanted to show you my stickers.  This was early and I did not fix my hair nor apparently had I fixed my face! at this point.  This is real life people and as I blog this I don't have time to edit this photo to make me look better nor do I think there is a program that would help!  This location said that they had recieved over 3,000 boxes on the day before the last day when I dropped off.  Last year they had reacieved over 5,000.  They knew they would be down some because of the economy.  I had blogged before that I am going to collect things as I see them on sale or have coupons for toiletries (you can normally get most free with coupons especially the travel size) through the year that way we will not have to go buy around the holidays.  Hopefully all of you will join in next year!

I also wanted to share this email with you.  My Dad's wife who works for the Board of Education in the county where I went to school sent me this.  This is from the High School I attended.

Chelsea Students Help with Operation Christmas Child Project

A group of 44 National Honor Society members from Chelsea High School, eight parents, and teacher sponsors Carlene Hooper and Nancy Stroup traveled to Atlanta, GA on December 4 to work at the Operation Christmas Child distribution center.  This ministry, began by Franklin Graham, enables thousands of children in some of the world's poorest countries to receive a Christmas box filled with joy and hope.  Over 850,000 shoe boxes prepared by civic clubs, churches, and individuals had been packed for children.

Students processed each box, removing donations made for shipping expenses.  They also removed items that cannot go into certain countries and   replaced those items with other suitable items.  Finally, they helped tape and pack boxes into crates to get them ready to be shipped all over the world.  The Atlanta Distribution is one of six located in the United States.  This was the third annual trip made by Chelsea High School's National Honor Society. 

"It's amazing to think that what we did here today will make such a big difference in a child's life," said student Lauren Swee.

 "Everyone was overwhelmed at the generosity of so many Americans, and, indeed, agreed that they discovered  the true meaning of Christmas in a huge, drafty warehouse in Atlanta," said teacher sponsor Nancy Stroup.

Cas's Mom also said the had a lady in a local church (his Dad is a preacher) come to some of the churches and speak to try to get some involvement from the members for this charity. She had been a recipient of a shoe box when she was young and the thing she was most grateful for was a wash cloth and soap that she received!  Wow things we all use everyday I really hope!  Hopefully this will inspire you ahead f time for next year!  Merry Christmas!

OCC~Operation Christmas Child

I have my shoe boxes ready to drop off in the morning.  I just need pencil sharpeners which I have not found yet.  I checked the Dollar Tree and Dollar General so I will check WalMart or Target in the morning.  It is still heartbreaking to me that this is really all some of these children get and there is only so much you can fit in a small box!  I am soo excited that Susannah, Mrs. LG, and Renea are all participating in this as well!  If everyone that blogs just did one.....Wow that is a lot of shoe boxes!

If you want to participate you still have time to put a box together.  Some locations are excepting them through the weekend.  You can go to the Operation Christmas Child website and type in your zip code and it will tell you the drop off locations near you and it will tell you the times that someone will be there to accept boxes.  So you can go and look and see if you would still have time to make a box and drop it off in time!  Don't forget to read about the suggestions for your boxes.  They have things you should put in and things to leave out such as candy that will melt and don't forget to print out your label that you mark boy or girl on and what age range.  Also don't forget to put your $7 in to cover shipping.

From their site:

 INCLUDE YOUR DONATION

Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using our EZGIVE option, or you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation.

I did just read that it says no liquid items.......I have bubbles and Sus and I both have shampoo.  I guess I will ask when I get there!  It also says that soap should be in a plastic bag and candy should be in a bag.  Well now I guess I shall go re-work my box...hmm I had my candy in a bag and then it did not fit so I took it out.

This one made me cry!  The children are so sweet and they want to help and how awesome is it that they are being shown at an early age the spirit of giving to those less fortunate!

They also receive a book of gospel in their language with their boxes!

I am also going to include a small letter and a picture of us if I can find one!  If you are participating in this leave me a comment!

 

 

I will definitely start putting things away for next years boxes.  I hope we can do many more next year!

In one of the videos they make the comment:

1 box = 1 child = 1 life = 1 salvation

Operation Christmas and Compassion

I set out to start getting some of my items for my shoe box's today and it is harder than you think.  I know you are thinking what is hard about finding some $1 items and filling a box.  Well when you think about what they really need it would never fit it a shoe box, a full size moving box or even a refrigerator box!  I did off course pick up pencils because that is one of the things that they love to get because they are far and few between and they can write or draw with them.  How many of you have given your child a stack of paper and a marker to draw or write to keep them busy?  That is not even something that some of these children get to do.  Cas and I were talking tonight about this and some other things such as the Compassion Bloggers trip to El Salvador that I am sure many of you have read about at Kelly's Korner as she has had the honor of traveling with them on this trip and is blogging about it.  I also came in to check blogger in time to read that Angie Smith had posted about their being a live feed interview with all of the Compassion Bloggers tonight so I was able to watch a good bit of it.  I had been watching the CMA's and came in here to check on something during a commercial break and read about that so I tuned in and I listened to the rest of it not even going back to the CMA's.  There stories are just so much to take in.  Last season on 18 Kids and Counting with the Duggar family they went to El Salvador as well and I have watched that episode a number of times and I have listened to them talk about the poverty there and they showed many of the children there.  The biggest thing of that episode that has stuck with me was when they went to an orphanage and they showed all of the precious children that are orphans and technically should be adoptable but they said it takes 7-8+ years to adopt a child from there if at all.  It sounded like the government just doesn't make them a priority.  I have been reading Kelly's blog all week with her stories and I a have also been following some of the other bloggers that are there as well.  They have asked for people to step up and sponsor a child or children through Compassion for the cost of $38 a month.  Sometime in the next year or two, when things are financially better I would love to be able to do this!  I went to Compassion's website and they have all of the children that need sponsors and I looked at the children in El Salvador, you can look at a list for any country, and I noticed a lot of the pictures have hearts on them.  I looked to see what that meant and it stated that  they have been on the list for over six months for a sponsor!  It is sad to read and see list after list of them!  So if any of you are able and would want to sponsor a child go visit their website.  I will tell you that I have cried while reading their blogs and watching their videos they have posted.  What a blessing for them to be able to go over and witness to these families and children! 

As far as Operation Christmas Child my friend Susannah is going do some boxes as well.  You can go read about it here!  As Cas and I were talking we decided we can go ahead and commit to this for next year as well.  Since I have been getting so many things for Free with my couponing and a lot of them are toiletries I can start putting some aside for next year. Sometimes I see the Freebies or the next to nothing deals and I don't get  them because we don't need them but I can go ahead and put them away as well as collecting pencils, etc during the after holiday sells when they have everything marked off!  If you decide to do this you can read my previous post on it and go to their website and you type in your zip code and they will tell you where to drop your box or boxes off at.  There should be a church or school close by to you!  God Bless You ALL and to ALL a goonight!

Operation Christmas Child

Have any of you ever heard of this or participated?  This program is part of Samaritan's Purse.  It is where you fill a shoe box up for a a child somewhere in the world that otherwise would not receive anything for Christmas, much less anything all year?  I included a video at the bottom that shows the gist of it.  The website will show you much more!  We have participated in this before when our friend Renea was challenged to do this as a project for a college class to receive extra credit.  Yes it helped her but we did it for the fact that a child would get something for Christmas!  We did two boxes a couple of years ago and we will do two boxes this year.  One for a boy and one for a girl!  You decide if you want to do a girl or a boy either ages 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Here are the exact guidelines! We have the boxes that Samaritans Purse provided to us but you can use any standard shoe box out of your closet or you can even use a plastic shoe box that you can buy at ant Dollar Store or Wal~Mart.  Some of the things that they say the children love are toothbrushes, toothpaste, and soap~all personal hygiene items.  Things that we walk into our bathroom everyday and use some of these children have never had.  I know you can especially get some of these items close to free with coupons.  They also suggest pencils!  The kids love them!  Any kind of hard candy, toys, maybe even something to wear.  You could spend $10-$15 and have your shoe box full of stuff that would mean so much!  The Dollar Tree and the Target Dollar Section would be great places to find things for your boxes.  I was watching a video on this program earlier and there was a little girl that looked to be 6-7? and she received a doll in her box and she said that "she had prayed to God for a doll and had always wanted one"!  I am pretty sure all of the ladies reading this had numerous dolls growing up.  I know I did.  If you think you would want to participate in this I would encourage you to!  You can go to their link that I posted at the top and you can print of labels for your box and it will tell you everything that is suggested and not suggested for your boxes.  You are also to include $7 to help get it across the world!  Also, on their link you will need to look up a drop off location.  You just give them your zip code and their should be a local place to drop your box off between November 16-23.  I am in no way suggesting that you do not participate in local charities as well.  We have participated in Giving Trees and Toys for Tots in the past as well!  We are on a budget at our house but for $15 we can make a child smile with stuff that we would take for granted!  I hope all of you participate!  If you need to know more or what to do leave me a comment! If you participate in this leave me a comment also!

Click It!

See that pink ribbon on the right of my page?  If you are reading my page please take just the 30 seconds it will take you to click on it and then click the big pink rectangle!  That is all you have to do!  Please do it for the women in your life!

Thanks!

Ice Cream and Their Dreams

I thought I would share with all you this that I just received in my email: I know we have two locations here in town. Enjoy a treat and help a cause!

Cold Stone Creamery supports the
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia and Alabama!

Cold Stone Creamery® will host the "World's Largest Ice Cream Social," a fundraising event to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America and its chapters across the country.

On Sept. 24, 2009, from 5-8 p.m., Cold Stone Creamery stores invite ice cream lovers to experience the joy of ice cream at a nostalgic event that promises wholesome family fun and lots of ice cream.

This year's celebration includes a 3-ounce Creation developed by 5-year-old wish child and 2009 Junior Tastemaster™ Jack. He combined sweet cream ice cream with brownie, sprinkles and fudge to create his special treat.

From 5-8 p.m., customers will receive a 3-ounce serving of Jack's Creation in exchange for a donation to this worthy cause. Donations that night and all month long will benefit the local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.