IDEAS & RESOURCES

F O R S C H O O L S

Since 1993, more than 147 million boys and girls in over 150 nations have experienced God’s unconditional love as they receive Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts donated through schools, individuals, families and other groups. Shoebox gifts are for children in need, regardless of their background or religious belief. Each shoebox is a gift of love that tells a child they are not forgotten.

We invite your school to participate in Operation Christmas Child this year and bring Good News and Great Joy to children in developing countries.

NATIONAL COLLECTION MONTH

OCCTOBER

to the ends of the earth

from your students

• Download our Primary and Secondary School lesson plans at operationchristmaschild.org.au OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz and use Operation Christmas Child as an opportunity to learn about children of other cultures, languages and world religions. Choose one of the destination countries to study. Research the customs, flag, geography, and current events. Invite someone from one of the countries to make a presentation to your class.

• Download colouring pages that your students can put in their shoeboxes to let the recipients know about the children who packed their gifts online at operationchristmaschild.org.au/resources OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz/resources

• Write letters to include in the shoeboxes. It’s a great creative writing opportunity.

• Host a fundraising event to raise the $10 donation per box – bake sale, talent show, auction, etc.

• Invite an Operation Christmas Child representative to share about the project at assembly.

• At the beginning of term three, encourage your students to begin collecting items for shoeboxes.

• Get the word out through announcements and school notices/bulletin inserts.

• Have a Packing Party in OCCTOBER for your school where everyone brings their gifts and packs shoeboxes. Download a ‘How to Host a Shoebox Packing Party’ guide from our website.

• Contact your local processing centre and arrange for your older students to volunteer to help process shoeboxes.

2

GET INVOLVED

HOST A PACKING PARTY

TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR SCHOOL INVOLVED

HOST A SHOEBOX PACKING PARTY AT YOUR SCHOOL THIS YEAR. HERE’S HOW!

1. Decide on a location, date and shoebox goal for your packing party.

2. Gather resources: Go to operationchristmaschild.org.au OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz for videos, photos, impact stories about kids who have received a shoebox, downloadable colouring pages, ‘How to Pack Your Shoebox’ brochures, and other resources.

3. Packing preparation: Have students bring age-appropriate gift items from the six categories: something to love, something to play with, something for school, something to wear, something for personal hygiene and something special, as well as the $10 donation per shoebox.

4. Gather a supply of empty shoeboxes. You could order pre-printed shoeboxes on our website or have students source their own empty shoeboxes and bring them. You could also ask your local shoe stores for empty boxes.

5. Encourage students to bring photos or you could take pictures at the packing party and print them out. Include a photo and a short, age-appropriate note of encouragement to the child in each shoebox.

6. Have snacks available – for fun you could try international foods from countries where shoeboxes are delivered. Show Operation Christmas Child videos as you enjoy your snacks!

7. Set up stations for wrapping shoeboxes (wrap the lid and box separately), packing shoeboxes with gifts and writing notes. Try to include gifts from each of the six categories – something to love, something to play with, something for school, something to wear, something for personal hygiene and something special. Remember to pray for the child who will receive your shoebox!

8. Include your donation: Your donation of $10 per shoebox is essential to enable us to cover the costs of the project. Donations can be made online or on the ‘How to Pack Your Shoebox’ brochure, which can be downloaded at operationchristmaschild.org.au/resources OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz/resources and photocopied.

9. Drop off your shoeboxes in OCCTOBER. After your packing party, go to operationchristmaschild.org.au/dops OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz/dops to find your nearest Drop Off Point and drop off all the shoeboxes you’ve packed!

per shoeboxessential to cover project costs

$10

NATIONAL COLLECTION MONTH

OCCTOBER

3

Why do we ask for a $10 donation with each shoebox?Operation Christmas Child distributes hundreds of thousands of shoeboxes each year free of charge to disadvantaged children overseas. For most of these children, it is the first gift they have ever received.

But did you know it costs approximately $10 per box for the freight, overseas partner costs, local rents, personnel, advertising and administration of this program? Your $10 donation per box covers these costs, enabling us to continue sending gift-filled shoeboxes to children in need!

When and where can I hand in my shoeboxes?In Australia and New Zealand, OCCTOBER is National Collection Month.

Go to operationchristmaschild.org.au/dops OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz/dops to view a full list of Drop Off Points.

What is Operation Christmas Child?The world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, Operation Christmas Child uses gift-filled shoeboxes to share God’s love in a tangible way with impoverished kids.

Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has globally collected and delivered more than 147 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in over 150 countries.

What is The Greatest Journey?Children who receive Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes have an opportunity to enrol in The Greatest Journey, our 12-lesson discipleship program, with their parent’s permission. Led by trained local teachers, children become grounded in their faith and learn how to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others.

Children who complete the course receive a graduation certificate, and a New Testament in their own language. A monthly gift of just $10 can provide all of the materials needed to disciple 12 children a year.

Order or download the following resources at operationchristmaschild.org.au/resources OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz/resources

• Cartons of 25 pre-printed shoeboxes may be ordered online for $12.50.

• Additional FREE materials including brochures and posters for your Operation Christmas Child promotional campaign may be ordered online.

• Download flyers, shoebox gift ideas and other resources.

• Download activity pages for kids to colour in and include in their shoeboxes.

SCHOOL RESOURCES

FAQS

NATIONAL COLLECTION MONTH

OCCTOBER

LEARN MORE ABOUT OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD ON OUR WEBSITE!Donate $10 per box: operationchristmaschild.org.au/shoeboxdonationsOrder and download resources: operationchristmaschild.org.au/resourcesSource stories: operationchristmaschild.org.au/storiesWatch videos: operationchristmaschild.org.au/videosFind your nearest Drop Off Point: operationchristmaschild.org.au/dopsVolunteer with us: operationchristmaschild.org.au/volunteer

4

FIND YOUR NEAREST DROP OFF POINT

5 In OCCTOBER, find your nearest Drop Off Point:operationchristmaschild.org.au/dops ORoperationchristmaschild.org.nz/dops

LABEL YOUR SHOEBOXES

4 PRINT AND ATTACH LABELS: • Every shoebox must be labelled.• Do not photocopy barcoded labels

or the barcode will not scan.• For non-trackable labels, go to

operationchristmaschild.org.au/resources OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz/resources

B5829

2-4 YEAROLD 5-9 YEAR

OLD 10-14 YEAROLD

B5830

2-4 YEAROLD 5-9 YEAR

OLD 10-14 YEAROLD

B5829

2-4 YEAROLD 5-9 YEAR

OLD 10-14 YEAROLD

B5830

2-4 YEAROLD 5-9 YEAR

OLD 10-14 YEAROLD

How to Pack Your ShoeboxREMEMBER TO REMOVE & RECYCLE GIFT PACKAGING. Help save the environment!

• Use any shoebox with a lid no larger than an A4 page

OR• Order pre-printed shoeboxes at

operationchristmaschild.org.au/resources OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz/resources

1START WITH A SHOEBOX

PACK GIFTSCHOOSE GIRL OR BOY & AGE

2-45-910-14

SOMETHING TO WEAR

SOMETHING TO LOVE

SOMETHING SPECIAL

SOMETHING FOR SCHOOL

SOMETHING TO PLAY WITH

SOMETHING FOR PERSONAL HYGIENE

PACK YOUR SHOEBOX

2ONLINE DONATIONS: (PREFERRED)Go to operationchristmaschild.org.au/ shoeboxdonations OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz/ shoeboxdonations to donate. A barcoded label for each shoebox will be emailed to you.

CASH, CREDIT CARD OR CHEQUE DONATIONS:If not donating online, complete the form in the “How to Pack Your Shoebox” brochure and place with your cash or cheque in an envelope inside your box.

DONATE $10 PER SHOEBOX

3ESSENTIAL!

SOMETHING TO WEAR: t-shirt, polo shirt, shorts, skirt, cap, beanie, sandals, etc. SOMETHING TO LOVE: teddy bear, doll, soft toy, etc. SOMETHING SPECIAL: carry bag, sunglasses, bangles, stickers, necklaces, craft kits, wind-up torch, a personal note, a photo of yourself, etc. SOMETHING FOR SCHOOL: exercise book, pencil case, pens, pencils, colouring pencils, sharpener, eraser, chalk, etc. SOMETHING TO PLAY WITH: tennis ball, cars, skipping rope, marbles, musical instrument, yo-yo, slinky, finger puppets, etc. SOMETHING FOR PERSONAL HYGIENE: soap and face washer, toothbrush, hairbrush, comb, scrunchies, hair-clips, etc.

GIFT SUGGESTIONS PROHIBITED ITEMS ITEMS THAT LEAK OR MELT: (these can spoil boxes) including toothpaste, shampoo, bubbles, crayons and plasticine/play dough FOOD OR LOLLIES OF ANY KIND: (due to customs regulations) including medicines and vitamins USED OR DAMAGED ITEMS: (due to customs regulations) including worn clothing and old toys BREAKABLE ITEMS: including glass, porcelain and mirrors ITEMS THAT CAN SCARE OR HARM A CHILD: including halloween, war or pirate-related items such as toy guns, knives, military figures or skull and crossbones GAMBLING-RELATED ITEMS: including play money, playing cards and dominoes RELIGIOUS LITERATURE: including tracts and Bibles (every child is given an Operation Christmas Child evangelistic book at an outreach event)

These items are prohibited to protect children or to comply with overseas government and customs restraints.

Remember to pray for the child who will receive your shoebox!

NATIONAL COLLECTION

MONTH OCCTOBER

DROP-OFF POINTSDrop-off points will be open from 1st - 31st October.Go to operationchristmaschild.org.au/dops or operationchristmaschild.org.nz/dops to find your nearest location.

ACT & SOUTHERN NSW (OFFICE)Postal: PO Box 1613, Tuggeranong DC, ACT 2901Street: Lyons Church of Christ, 2 Marawah Street, Lyons NSW 2606Email: act@samaritanspurse.org.au

TASMANIAPostal: PO Box 1070, Rosny Park TAS 7018Street: Unit 1, 76 Mornington Road, Mornington TAS 7018Email: tas@samaritanspurse.org.au

WESTERN AUSTRALIAPostal: PO Box 849, Balcatta WA 6914Street: Unit 3, 2 Ledgar St, Balcatta WA 6021Email: wa@samaritanspurse.org.au

NEW ZEALAND NORTH ISLANDPostal: PO Box 45109 Te Atatu 0651Street: 10B Enterprise Drive, Henderson Auckland NZ 0612Email: occ@samaritanspurse.org.nz

NEW SOUTH WALESPostal: PO Box 346, Penrith NSW 2751Street: 13 Binney Road, Kings Park NSW 2148Email: nsw@samaritanspurse.org.au

QUEENSLANDPostal: PO Box 6062, Fairfield Gardens, QLD 4103Street: Building 3, 50 Raubers Road, Banyo QLD 4014Email: qld@samaritanspurse.org.au

VICTORIAPostal: PO Box 205, Mitcham VIC 3132Street: Rear of Mitcham Baptist Church, 8-12 Simla Street, Mitcham VIC 3132Email: vic@samaritanspurse.org.au

SOUTH AUSTRALIA & NORTHERN TERRITORY (OFFICE)Postal: PO Box 1135, Pasadena, SA 5042Office: Community Centre, Edwardstown Baptist Church, Dorene St, St Marys, SA 5042Email: sa@samaritanspurse.org.au

Call us on 1800 684 300 (AU) or 0800 684 300 (NZ) for Processing Centre open hours.

PROCESSING CENTRE LOCATIONS

AUSTRALIADonations and Enquiries: 1300 884 468Speak to a Local Representative: 1800 684 300 operationchristmaschild.org.au

NEW ZEALANDDonations and Enquiries: 0800 726 274Speak to a Local Representative: 0800 684 300operationchristmaschild.org.nz

/operationchristmaschild.anz @occ_anzSamaritan’s Purse Australasia-Operation Christmas Child ABN: 80 162 895 623Samaritan’s Purse Australia Ltd. ABN: 84 070 722 404 NZ CCRN: CC36649