Operation Christmas Child, an outreach program of Franklin Graham’s Samaritans Purse, brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. Easiest described as “Christmas in a shoebox”, participants fill shoeboxes with small gifts and necessities which will be distributed to children worldwide.
Since 1999, Bartlett UMC has participated in OCC. In 2003, Bartlett UMC became the drop-off center for most of West Tennessee and North Eastern Arkansas. In 2010, we processed 23,944 shoeboxes.
How can I help?
Fill a shoebox
Help promote OCC to area churches, businesses and schools
Volunteer during the collection week (week before Thanksgiving)
Make sandwiches, snacks, and goodies for volunteers
How to pack a shoe box:
Find an empty shoe box. (You can wrap it—lid separately—if you would like)
Decide whether your gift will be for a boy or girl and choose an age category:
(2-4), (5-9), or (10-14).
Fill your shoe box with a variety of gifts:
· Toys: small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, plastic kazoos, harmonicas,
yo-yos, small Etch A Sketch®, 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, coloring books, writing pads or paper, solar calculators,
etc.
· Hygiene items: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, comb, washcloth, etc.
· Other: hard candy, lollipops, mints, gum, sunglasses, flashlights with extra
batteries, ball caps, socks, T-shirts, toy jewelry sets, hair clips, watches,
small picture books, etc.
Do NOT include the following items:
· Used items
· War-related items (toy guns, toy soldiers, knives, etc.)
· Perishable items (chocolate, canned foods, crackers, etc.)
· Liquids (shampoo, lotion, bubbles, etc.)
· Medicines (vitamins, cough drops, ointment, etc.)
· Breakable items (mirrors, china dolls, etc.)
·
Finally, try to include $7 to help cover shipping and other costs.
For more information please click on the following link:
Operation Christmas Child
To reach our church from I40, use exit 12 Sycamore View & travel north into
Bartlett. Sycamore View will becomeBartlett Boulevard which will intersect
with Stage road at traffic lights. Turn left onto Stage & the church is along on
the right after crossing the railroad tracks. Click here for a map to the
church.