How can I get started with our church doing the shoe box ministry. We need labels, information. Thanks.?

If you haven't already done so, contact Franklin Graham's group Samaritan's Purse and get on their mailing list. I believe you can do this online at their main webpage. They should send you a complete information kit and a generous supply of pamphlets and labels. If you can't find the Samaritan's Purse information on your own, call other local churches and ask to speak with whoever is running their Operation Christmas Child program.





There are some important things to tell participants about the packages they send. First of all, there are items considered too dangerous to include, such as liquids, fragile glass items and medicines. The Samaritan's Purse material should cover all that. The participants should also know that the lid and box must not be wrapped together--the workers need to inspect the boxes for contraband and the check for expenses.





Also, if the participants cannot locate an actual shoebox, it is acceptable to use a small plastic storage box with a separate lid, like the kind you might find in the craft department at Walmart. Again, do not wrap the lid and box together, although an unwrapped lid can be snapped onto the box for security.





There is a lot more information to be found at the Samaritan's Purse website. You'll need to know where the nearest collection center is located (usually a larger church or community center) and the deadline for drop-offs.



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