Just wanted to share with you this great thing we’re getting to participate in this year. It’s called Operation Christmas Child and what they do is collect gifts in shoe boxes to give to children all around the world that need them. A little something special for children who normally aren’t going to get anything.

So we are filling a box for a boy about the same age as Elijah. This is great for him because he is picking out things he likes to give to someone else. Today in the pharmacy, he said, “and can we buy some toys for the little boy who’s mommy doesn’t have money to get him presents?” Of course I about melted. He went to the stuffed animal rack of these soft little beanies and I told him that while we’re going on a special shopping trip for this tomorrow (to the land of affordable, the pharmacy is expensive), he could pick out one toy from the rack to buy. Not surprisingly, he picked out a little white tiger. He has a white tiger like that, although about twice the size, that I got him at the tiger sanctuary the day we went out there. He has an orange one, too, but the white one is his favorite. It was heart warming to see him look for one that is just like the one he already has that’s his favorite. In the box so far, we have the tiger, a little Lightning McQueen notepad and Lightning McQueen pen. Tomorrow we’ll be filling it with more items both fun and functional. So it’s a good thing the tiger isn’t that big!

There are five steps to sending out a box through the organization. Their website states that you can use any shoebox but somehow we got some “official” ones at our church that are colorful and have the organization name on them. You decide what age group and gender you’ll be filling the box for and then fill the box with items from the likes of toys, school supplies, hygiene, certain kinds of candy and other various items. Some of the restrictions include no guns or knives (even toys), medications or vitamins, breakable items, etc. Most of that is common sense, I think. So after you’re done, you fill out the form and attach the proper label and either drop it off at one of their drop off locations or mail it with a $7 donation to help cover postage.

I think it’s a great little organization and a great way to spread some cheer and hope to participate next year. After doing it this year, I would like to next year do more than one box, maybe for several different age groups.

The one problem I am coming up against is the age group, actually. The groups are ages 2 to 4, 5 to 9, or 10 to 14. Elijah is 5 so we wanted to stick to his age group but 5 to 9 is kind of a large group and I wonder if we did that group maybe if a child around age 9 got it, he might not appreciate the items as much as a 5 year old would. And on the other side, if we choose 2 to 4, a 2 year old might get it and maybe we’d have some items that are fine for a 4 year old but not quite appropriate for a 2 year old. I guess I’ll be able to better decide after Elijah picks out all the stuff to put in. Of course, I’ll have to override some of his decisions because I do want to include items like a toothbrush and probably a little flashlight with some batteries. Maybe it doesn’t really matter, maybe the people actually handing out the boxes will have discretion. My part is really just making sure I get it filled and sent out in time!

So I encourage you to participate, it’s really a great project, especially to teach the little ones about sharing and helping those less fortunate.