We all know that it is better to give than to receive. Chances are you have as many nice memories of gifts you’ve given as of those you have gotten from others.
Christmas is one of the times when it’s easiest to find opportunities to give to others- friends, families, and those in need. 
If you’re looking for an opportunity to help the less fortunate this year, your opportunity is here! There is a great program called Operation Christmas Child. Essentially, tens of thousands of Americans fill shoe boxes with gifts for needy children and a Christian Ministry, Samaritan’s Purse, distributes the presents worldwide. By filling a shoe box with small items for a child you can help children all around the world.
If this sounds good to you and you’re church isn’t participating in Operation Christmas Child, Calvary is participating through both their Beaumont location and their Lumberton location.
Brochures for OCC Shoe Box Ministry can be found in welcome centers and information racks in Calvary Central and V2 and in the Coffee Cafe at the North Campus.
A list of suggested items can be found in the brochure.
Filling boxes is fun. Our family typically blocks off a couple of hours and uses the time exclusively shopping for Operation Christmas Child- nothing for ourselves. Our kids like to try to find the best items to fill the box with things kids their ages would like and be able to use. Obviously size is an issue.
One strategy is to mix practical items with fun items. 
Practical: Toothbrush, nail clippers, floss, batteries, notebooks, pens, education flashcards.
Fun: stickers, bright markers or hi-liters, flashlight, magnifying glass, small toys, inexpensive MP3 player with preloaded songs and batteries. When the box is full sprinkle with some hard candy that won’t melt if it’s going somewhere hot.
This can be done for any budget you’re comfortable with. We’ve filled boxes before for $15 and you can spend as much more as you’re comfortable with- or fill more boxes.
Shoe Boxes are due back at Calvary by Sunday, November 11.
HELP NEEDED: Calvary will be a drop off location for OCC. We need volunteers to work the week of November 11 – 18, hours are
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
Contact: Bonnie Whiteman, 898-7074,
Alternate Contact: Steve Wooten, 673-8695. By email: steven.woo10@gmail.
Is your church involved with Operation Christmas Child? E-mail the dropoff info to setxchurchguide@gmail.com and we’ll share it with our readers on SETXchurchguide.com
