On Tuesday, Joe came home with a shoe box. Someone speaking at his school on behalf of Samaritan’s Purse talked about “Operation Christmas Child”, and Joe wanted to participate.
Last night, he and I made a list of items we could buy for a boy between the ages of 5 – 9. Joe asked that we include socks, a toothbrush, toothpaste, school supplies, and a slinky. Once the list was complete, I went out to get the items. Joe stayed home to work on a letter he planned on including in the box, along with a picture of himself.
While I wasn’t able to find a slinky, I did purchase a small Lego Creator set, crayons, pads of paper, pencils, glue sticks, erasers, and the other items Joe mentioned. Joe and I packed up the shoe box and tied it with string. The school will take it to a drop off location today.
Soon, a child will receive Joe’s shoebox. I am imagining the boy smiling when he sees what is inside his very own box, and I am wondering what he will draw with his new crayons. I hope he is able to write Joe, as we included our mailing address in the shoebox. I am certain, if the child chooses to write, Joe’s face will light up and he will be forever changed. He’s already changed by participating in this charitable act.
I’m proud of this kid Joe, and I was happy to complete this project with him.
This is National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child. (November 12 – 19) If you have a few minutes, maybe you and your kids could participate, too. If you do not celebrate Christmas or you are not a believer – no worries. Giving does not require religion.
Here is a link to Operation Christmas Child: http: //www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/occ/.
I hope you’ll join us in sending a child a smile in a box.
.:.
Lenore's Thoughts Exactly 
Love it- we are packing ours on Friday night. Is this the first time for you? We love doing this every year- the kids love to shop for it too.
Yes, this is the first time we’ve participated in Operation Christmas Child. I suspect this will be an annual thing from here on out. Joe really did enjoy it. Have your kids ever gotten letters back? I would love for Joe to make a friend out of this moment.
Good for you, Joe. I hope you get a letter about your gift. Maybe you will learn something about the person who received the box.
Blessings to you, Joe ~ Maxi
Hi Joe, What a wonderful thing you did by filling the shoe box. By writing a letter and including it, that will mean so much to that young boy. One reason is, I would bet, the young boy has never been sent a letter from another young boy. He will be so grateful to you and I hope he is able to write back to you. God Bless you Joe, and remember to thank your Mom for going and getting the things that you asked for to put in the box. I live in Jacksonville, Fl. but I have met your Mom and Dad. They are both very kind and told me what great boys they have, They are very proud of both of you boys. Blessings, Ms. Libby
Nice one, Joe! Good to know you don’t have a Scrooge gene. 🙂
This is a wonderful program. I’m glad you and Joe participated.
Making my heart smile with this post!
MJ
I’m glad, MJ. You make me smile with your visits.
I cried.
I’m sorry. 🙂
Have done this for years and years –started when the boys were little and kept it up, even when we lived in Australia. I was organizer many years which was wonderful to see how many boxes would come in each year. One of my friends went to help deliver boxes in Mexico and I helped coordinate another group to go but I could not go on that trip and I always was sad I couldn’t but some day the chance may come up again. It is a great thing and you are teaching Joe some great lessons!!!
How nice to ‘hear’ from someone who has been directly involved in the project. Thanks for the work, Beth Ann. We are thrilled to participate. I suspect it will become a tradition for us.
It is such a great organization and project and I think the great thing is that almost anyone can fill one—they don’t have to be as stuffed as I always make mine.. 🙂 And they go to warehouses where there are volunteers who sort them also—take out anything that slips through that is not appropriate or won’t work and I suspect maybe even them out at times . It is such a great thing and so many ways to volunteer from start to finish.
What an awesome act from an awesome kid! I’m hoping I’ll remember to participate. (Leaving this comment will help me remember.) I benefited from the kindness of such giving several times during my childhood, and I can speak firsthand to the gratitude of knowing that no matter how much it felt like we were alone . . . there were other people out there who cared.
Thank you, Deborah. Charlie brought home a box yesterday, so we are working on putting another one together for a boy. I love doing things like this – it really does make a person feel good (on both sides).