Service Idea: Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

 

It feels weird posting about Christmas Shoe Boxes when we just celebrated the first day of Fall but it’s time! Shoe boxes have been around for quite some time and are a great and easy way to get your kiddos involved in serving and thinking of others. If your church is focusing on the shoeboxes during this time, just grab a box from them and pack it full of fun items for either a boy or girl, depending on their age. Then return the filled shoe box back to your church. If not, be sure to follow the instructions on their website (link below).

Here are some great ideas to do with your box as you prepare and pack and serve with your kiddos.

1. Let your children go shopping with you!

I know, I know.. it’s so much faster and easier to just go grab the items while the kids are in school but that takes part of the fun away from the kids. Let them make a list of things that you could put in the box, let them use some of their money, and let them actually buy the items from the store. It becomes their own project at that point.

2. Draw a picture or write a note for the kid receiving the box!

Samaritan’s Purse has a great little letter template on their website too that you can download for your kiddos to color and fill out. Let them draw in the box too! Be creative and fun and it will be fun for your kiddos – and the child receiving it.

3. Pray over the box (or boxes) as a family!

It’s so important to model to your kiddos and it helps them become a bit more attached to the box and who might be receiving it, what their story will be, and how we can have a part in a child’s life that lives around the world.

4. Talk about the Box and how it will get to where it’s going! 

This could lead to some great conversations with your kids about why you are packing a box, what their child might be like, how you can pray for children around the world, poverty and serving others. Don’t shy away from these conversations! These are great building blocks for our children to learn and be a part of! You can even track your box too, which is fun!

 

 

For more info about Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes and how to pack, etc. be sure to check out Samaritan’s Purse Website !

Also, hop on over to our Pinterest Page for more Shoebox Ideas and Wisdom!

Have you packed a shoe box before? If so, what items do you pack? How do you involve your kiddos? Hop over to OMM Instagram and share those ideas so we can learn from one another!