Country Oaks is so happy to be a part of Operation Christmas Child and the shoebox collection (this will be our 13th year! How exciting!). Every year during the National Collection Week, COBC serves as a drop-off center for the Tehachapi area, and at the end of the week a group takes all the boxes to the Samaritan’s Purse processing center in Fullerton, California.
Packing a shoebox is a great way to send encouragement to children around the world. Each box contains a few small gifts along with the message of the hope of Jesus Christ and lets these children know that they have not been forgotten and that they are loved.
Want to get involved? Click here for more information on volunteering with Samaritan’s Purse.
Want to pack a box (or 2 or 3?)? Find a step-by-step guide below, or you can click here to build a shoebox online for only $25.
Pack A Box:
- Find a shoebox: Start with an average-sized plastic or cardboard shoebox. You can also pick up a preprinted OCC shoebox in the Country Oaks Worship Center, they’ll be available a few weeks before the Collection Week in November.
- Choose who to pack for: Decide whether to pack for a boy or girl and what age group you’re packing for; 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14.
- Fill the box with gifts: Put in a medium-to-large “Wow” item, such as a stuffed animal or soccer ball with pump, then add other fun toys, hygiene items, and school supplies.
- Pray: Pray for the child who will receive your box. You can also include a note or photo if you like.
- Follow your Box: Donate $9 online to help with processing, shipping, and gospel materials, and you will also receive a label to “Follow your Box” and discover the destination of your gift.
- Drop it Off: Take your box to a drop-off location (like COBC) during National Collection Week. This year that will be November 16-23, 2020.
Thanks for being a part of this wonderful outreach!
Gift Ideas:
TOYS – Small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small etch-a-sketches, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky, etc.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES – Pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.
HYGIENE ITEMS – Toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap, comb, wash cloth, etc.
OTHER – T-shirts, socks, ball caps, watches, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, flashlights, etc.
WHAT NOT TO PUT IN A SHOEBOX: War-related items such as toy guns, knives, or military figures, chocolate or food, liquids or lotions, medications or vitamins, breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers, aerosol cans, etc.
Ways to pray for OCC:
- Pray for the many evangelistic opportunities that can occur
- Pray about your involvement in our local OCC Relay Center this year
- Pray about whether you should be a part of the trip to the OCC Processing Center
In 2019:
For more information about OCC at Country Oaks, contact Lori Gohr at lori@heritageoakschool.com.
For more information about Operation Christmas Child and Samaritan’s Purse, visit www.samaritanspurse.org
