Donation Corner: Operation Christmas Child

I spotlighted Operation Christmas Child last year, but it's such a neat charity that I had to include it again. Every year, Samaritan's Purse collects thousands of shoe boxes (or plastic storage boxes of similar size) filled with gifts for children living in poverty. I personally love this opportunity to donate because it is a great way to involve the kids. Eli (and now Maddux) gets to pick out some toys, socks, toothbrushes, and other little goodies for 'udder kids' (as he calls them). Then he can easily sort them into boxes based on gender or age. Even though we don't know what country our specific boxes will go to, we talk about a few of the places they might go, and I try my best to explain to the kids why some people need us to send them hats and books. Some great conversations have come out of this donation of time and materials in the last two years, and I can only hope it's helping Eli and Maddux to be more aware and giving people. The collection week is fast approaching (November 17-24), so you don't have much time left to donate this year. If you miss the cutoff, you can donate year round by mailing your boxes to OCC's headquarters. If you finish your box by the 24th, you can drop it off at any number of collection sites.