I know you've seen many posts from lots of us who have been shopping all year for this event. BUT it is finally here. I have been busy at my local collection center meeting and greeting people and helping to pack the boxes into cartons. We've gotten several thousand so far and it looks like it is going to be a great week. If you don't know about this project yet (and it is near and dear to the hearts of several of our posters), here is the info:

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A CHILD'S LIFE !
Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God's love. People of all ages can be involved in this simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ.

Individuals take a simple shoe box and fill it with various needed hygiene items, school supplies and small toys, plus a small note or photo of themselves. The way you pack the box is exactly how the child receives it; it is a wonderfully unique and personal way to touch a suffering child living in an impoverished country.

There are several ways you can participate: small groups can make 1 group box; or everyone buy certain items and make several boxes together; or even everyone make their own individual boxes. You can customize the project to fit your needs.

It is a one time a year project and Collection Week this November 17-24! To look for your local collection center just go to the website and on the righthand side check out "drop off locations" and on the next page plug in your zip code and voila! it will list everything close to you!

Here is the website: http://www. samaritanspurse. org/index. php/OCC/

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That is so wonderful! I know I get such a good feeling putting toys in the bin! Any and every little thing each of us can do to make the Holidays brighter for a child really in essence makes the whole world a brighter place.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

There is supposed to be a family day where families can volunteer in the distribution center in our area. I thought it might be nice for the kids to see what happens to our boxes. We dropped ours off this past Sunday at church. Usually we like to pack boxes for older boys as they tend to get forgotten.

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Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye
When none but God is near."

We dropped off our boxes on Monday. I'm already beginning to look for stuff for next year. Got coloring books at Walgreens last week at 3/$1

At our collection place we left 47 boxes, a first for our small church, although I have been doing it for 7 years. The gals who were co-ordinating at the collection place got down on their knees and prayed for the boys and girls who were going to receive our boxes. It was so sweet.

My hubby wants to go to Boone, NC to work in the warehouse there. So we're going to plan on it.

I've always wanted to go, but it never worked out.

Ladies, think if you would like to volunteer to help out all year round.

I've made boxes for many years and for the past 9 years have helped at our collection center for the week each year. Little by little I took on more responsibilities and found out there are so many ways you can help year round.

You can:
contact other churches and community groups and share about the project and invite them to participate,
you can get to know the media outlets in your area and help advertise,
you can contact corporations and see if they would like to donate items to the warehouse to use as filler items for "emptier" boxes
and also you can join the prayer group to prayer year round.

If you would like to do any of these, contact your local collection center or go onto the website and get the information for your Regional Office. Call them and find out where your skills are needed most! It is so much fun! (And if you are on Long Island, make sure to contact me, lol, as I am now the local Area Coordinator and we LOVE volunteers.)

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