The 11th-annual Operation Christmas Child campaign at Sewickley United Methodist Church will accelerate with contributions sought from the congregation between July and September.
The SUMC church family has combined to fill 1,001 shoeboxes in the past ten years, at least 100 in each of the past nine years. Our contributions in 2020 reached children in Ecuador. In previous years, we reached children in Ukraine, Columbia, the Bahamas, Honduras, Mexico, multiple countries in Africa, including Burundi and Mali, and at least one nation whose identity could not be revealed for safety and security reasons.
Each of the shoeboxes, filled with small gifts, is delivered with literature celebrating Jesus and an invitation to attend classes to learn more about Jesus and His love for all of us.
Through September, we will be collecting the following gift items:
Health and personal care items, such as bar soap, washcloths, toothbrushes, adhesive bandages, combs, hair brushes, hair accessories, socks, and sunglasses
School supplies, such as crayons and markers, pens and colored pencils, pencil sharpeners and erasers, scissors and glue sticks, and notebooks that fit easily into a shoebox
“Wow” toys, including dolls, balls, stuffed animals, ball caps, and jewelry
The Fellowship of the Cross donation box is outside the church office.
Operation Christmas Child does not accept toothpaste, any liquids (including shampoo), candy, or war-related items, such as toy guns or knives.
Financial donations are welcome as well to help buy additional items to fill the boxes. There is an Operation Christmas Child option on the EasyTithe menu. Financial contributions can also be made through the offering or church office; please mark them “OCC.”