Deer Creek Church has participated to fill and send shoeboxes for the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse each year in November. Done so since 2013. A vital part of this ministry is PRAYER! We want everyone to PRAY for the children to receive Christ as Savior as they receive these gift boxes. The boxes are provided at the church. We fill them with school supplies, toiletries, small toys, and other needed items for less fortunate children of other places in the US and other countries. We have collected over 100 boxes some years. The year of 2021 was quite the year due to Covid & so much more. DCC collected over 80 shoeboxes. Praise God!
We are starting early to collect items to fill the boxes in November:
TOYS: Include items that children will immediately embrace such as: small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), etc.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES: such as: pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, crayons or markers, notebooks, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.
NON-LIQUID HYGIENE ITEMS: Such as toothbrush, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.
OTHER: T-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses with plastic lenses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries).
A PERSONAL NOTE: in a separate envelope you may enclose a note to the child and even a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may be able to write back.)
What NOT to bring: No toothpaste, used or damaged items, war-related items such as toy guns, knives, or military figures. No candy, chocolate or food, seeds, fruit rolls or other fruit snacks, drink mixes (powdered or liquid). And no liquids or lotions, medications or vitamins, no breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers, and no aerosol cans.
Please go to samaritanspurse.org/occ for more UP-TO-DATE and COMPLETE information regarding OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD and appropriate additional gift suggestions.