I think I experienced the perfect play date yesterday (and I’m not just saying that because I hosted! ha!).
No, yesterday’s play date was awesome because the kids spent their time giving to other children at our Pack a Shoebox party for Operation Christmas Child!
Operation Christmas Child, an outreach of Samaritan’s Purse Ministries, coordinates a collection month for shoeboxes going to children across the world.
Over 100 million shoebox gifts have been donated to children all over the world. But there are more in need.
At our playdate, the kids gathered ’round the kitchen table, and I explained that we’d be packing boxes for four kids (two boy, two girl). Then the fun began! It was rather hilarious to see the kids trying to fit items into the boxes (which were all different sizes!). All the children were eager to pile toys and exciting supplies like bath scrubbies, coloring packs, and toothpaste into the boxes!
Then they decorated the boxes with Veggie Tales stickers! Snoopy is VERY excited to travel to a far away land and be hugged and squeezed by a little girl!
As a treat for the kids when they finished packing, they got to watch the brand new Veggie Tales Christmas DVD: Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas! Sure, it’s a bit early for Christmas movies, but never too early to teach children that “the true meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ, shoebox gifts demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way and serve as an example of His greatest gift to us.”
Throw your own Pack a Shoebox Playdate!
You can find pack a shoebox party resources including shoebox item lists on the Operation Christmas Child site.
Gather up some toys, school supplies and hygiene items (and a spare shoebox), invite some friends to do the same, and you could have what just might be the most rewarding play date of the year!
Thanks to Operation Christmas Child for sending a party kit for our shoebox packing party! No compensation was received for posting. All opinions are 100% my own.
