Christmas in OCCtober
Cotton crochet flowers, cute plush strawberries and a plump red robin look so pretty in the OCC shoebox. Photo | Ainslee Dennis
Today I tipped the colourful contents of an Operation Christmas Child (OCC) shoebox on my kitchen table.
It’s October, or OCCtober if you are an OCC donor, and that means a shoebox needs to be packed with gifts for a child in need, the $10 postage fee paid, and the shoebox taken to a drop-off point.
I have been making and buying things to put in the shoebox in recent months, and so today I decided to see if I finally had the required items … something to wear, something to love, something special, something for school, something to play with, and something for personal hygiene.
The colour and prettiness of all the items on the kitchen table gifted me joy, and I delight in the knowledge that it will be opened by a girl in need aged between five and nine years of age.
OCC celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2018; this is only my second year taking part, and even as I felt a little financially challenged by the provision of the items and postage cost - I simply love knowing that little hands will open the box, pour over its contents, and joyfully show family and friends her gifts. It literally is a once in a lifetime experience, as no child is ever given two shoeboxes by OCC during their life.
Last month I featured 80-year-old Shirley Greber of Wingham in the September edition of Focus Manning-Great Lakes. Her contribution to OCC spans decades, and her role in the creation and co-ordination of shoeboxes from Wingham Presbyterian Church is remarkable and inspiring. This year Shirley’s goal with the support of the church community is to send 100 shoeboxes, and I hope they hit the target - I will be dropping my shoebox to Shirley, so that is one less shoebox they need to create! If you missed reading Shirley’s inspiring story, ‘Packed With Love’, in Focus Manning-Great Lakes, or on the Love Pray Do website, simply click here to read it.
Shirley Greber is 80 years old and daily works to create clothing, or co-ordinate and collect donations for Operation Christmas Child. Photo | Ainslee Dennis
“this is such a beautiful and practical way to show love.”
So, if you are currently working to fill a box, consider this a friendly reminder that the deadline is approaching! However, if you are new to OCC consider this an invitation to learn more about it, and plan to do it for OCCtober in 2020. I invite you to watch the video and then visit the Operation Christmas Child website to learn more.
Love, pray and do,
