Saint Matthews Sunday School is Participating In

Operation Christmas Child

October 12th through November 10th

Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled and wrapped shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. Our Sunday School is again participating in this wonderful outreach program, and invites any of Saint Matthews Congregation and their friends to join in our effort. Here’s a guide of how to pack your shoe box:

FIND A SHOE BOX: Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. Festively wrap the box and lid separately. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift.

BOY OR GIRL? Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Pick up a flyer in church which has the labels and forms you need attached; mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.

FILL WITH GIFTS: Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child. This may include toys (incude extra batteries if required), School Supplies, Personal Hygiene Items, Clothes, Hard Candy (double bag please), and School Supplies as examples. DO NOT include: used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans.

INCLUDE YOUR DONATION: Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. 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 along with a form that we will have available.

DROP OFF: Place a rubber band around the box (we will have some if you do not) and bring your shoe boxes into church through Sunday November 10th.

We will write a note to insert inside each box from our Sunday School Children explaining where the gift came from and sending our prayers and blessings to the child; we may even receive some personal replies and hear what a difference our efforts have made in the lives of a less fortunate child.

If you have any questions, please contact Lucy Templeton.

Click here for payment form and box labels