HOST YOUR OWN PACKING PARTY!

1. LOCATION: Decide on a location, date and shoebox goal for your packing party.

2. GATHER RESOURCES: Go to operationchristmaschild.org.au OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz for videos, photos, impact stories about kids who have received a shoebox, downloadable colouring pages, ‘How to Pack Your Shoebox’ brochures, and other resources.

3. PACKING PREPARATION: Have guests bring age-appropriate gift items from the six categories: something to love, something to play with, something for school, something to wear, something for personal hygiene and something special, as well as the $10 donation per shoebox.

4. GATHER A SUPPLY OF EMPTY SHOEBOXES. You could order pre-printed shoeboxes on our website or have guests source their own empty shoeboxes and bring them. You could also ask your local shoe stores for empty boxes.

5. ENCOURAGE GUESTS TO BRING PHOTOS: Or you could take pictures at the packing party and print them out. Include a photo and a short, age-appropriate note of encouragement to the child in each shoebox.

6. HAVE SNACKS AVAILABLE: For fun you could try international foods from countries where shoeboxes are delivered. Show Operation Christmas Child videos as you enjoy your snacks!

7. SET UP STATIONS FOR WRAPPING SHOEBOXES: (wrap the lid and box separately), packing shoeboxes with gifts and writing notes. Try to include gifts from each of the six categories – something to love, something to play with, something for school, something to wear, something for personal hygiene and something special. Remember to pray for the child who will receive your shoebox!

8. INCLUDE YOUR DONATION: Your donation of $10 per shoebox is essential to enable us to cover the costs of the project. Donations can be made online or on the ‘How to Pack Your Shoebox’ brochure, which can be downloaded at operationchristmaschild.org.au/resources OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz/resources and photocopied.

9. DROP OFF YOUR SHOEBOXES IN OCCTOBER: After your packing party, go to operationchristmaschild.org.au/dops OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz/dops to find your nearest Drop Off Point and drop off all the shoeboxes you’ve packed!

per shoeboxessential to cover project costs

$10

Host an Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing party this year! Use this Packing Party Guide to help you get your family, friends and neighbours excited about packing shoeboxes and bringing Good News and Great Joy to kids around the world.

TIPS FOR PLANNING AND HOSTING YOUR PARTY

NATIONAL COLLECTION MONTH

OCCTOBER

You can order or download materials from operationchristmaschild.org.au OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz

YOUR $10 DONATION IS ESSENTIALESSENTIAL!Each shoebox that you pack takes a long journey to get into the hands of a needy child.A $10 donation per shoebox is essential to enable us to cover the costs of Operation Christmas Child, including shipping your box to a child in need!

Here are some ideas to share this need with the guests at your party:

Tell them about “Follow Your Box.”Guests can discover the destination of their shoeboxes by making their $10 per box donation online at operationchristmaschild.org.au OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz. You can ask guests to print labels in advance and bring them as “tickets” to the party, or you can set up a computer and printer so they can print the labels at the party.

Get your church involved. If your church is hosting a Shoebox Packing Day, ask if missions outreach funding might help cover the cost of donations.

Set up an empty shoebox.Guests can drop off financial donations to cover costs.

THE AMAZING JOURNEY OF A SHOEBOX GIFT BEGINS WITH YOU

PACKING, COLLECTING & SHIPPING WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION

PROCESSING CENTRE

OUTREACH EVENTS

DISCIPLESHIP & MULTIPLICATION

INTERNATIONAL RELIEF AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND

AUSTRALIADonations and Enquiries: 1300 884 468operationchristmaschild.org.au

NEW ZEALANDDonations and Enquiries: 0800 726 274operationchristmaschild.org.nz

/OCCanz @occ_anzSamaritan’s Purse Australasia-Operation Christmas Child ABN: 80 162 895 623Samaritan’s Purse Australia Ltd. ABN: 84 070 722 404 NZ CCRN: CC36649

LEARN HOW TO PACK A SHOEBOX GIFT!Visit operationchristmaschild.org.au OR operationchristmaschild.org.nz and learn how to bless a child overseas through a gift-filled shoebox, given in Jesus’ Name.

Donate $10 online to Follow Your

Box!