Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing
Wednesday, November 8th 6:30-8:00pm (Basement)

Join us for packing shoeboxes!  We have been collecting all year and now it is time to pack the shoeboxes!

This is a family friendly event and a great way to help kids (and adults) get excited about simple ways to share the Gospel with kids around the world!

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing this Wednesday!

The items have been collected.  The shoeboxes are here.  Now its time to pack! 

Our goal is to pack 100 shoeboxes to share God’s love and blessings with kids around the world.  This is a fun event for all ages!
The Packing Party takes place Wednesday, November 9th from 6:30-8pm and includes:
         * An brief video about the mission of OCC
         * Packing of 100 boxes
                                                        * A time of celebration with some munchies!

This is a fun, family-friendly event that allows all of us to make a kingdom impact around the world.  Thanks to all who have helped us to get to this point.  Our God is a mighty God!

Operation Christmas Child

Upcoming Dates:

Craft Night: October 12 6:30pm If you are craftsy or would just like to be, plan on joining us to make some simple gifts for kids around the world.

Packing Party: November 9th 6:30pm  Join us to pack shoeboxes!

Currently Collecting:

Personal Items & School Supplies

Operation Christmas Child is now collecting school supplies!  If you see those great deals popping up on school supplies, feel free to donate these wonderful items as well!
Please keep in mind that we cannot ship any liquids… so no nail polish, liquid glue, poster paints… you get the idea!

Operation Christmas Child

Currently Collecting:

Personal Items & School Supplies

Operation Christmas Child is now collecting school supplies!  If you see those great deals popping up on school supplies, feel free to donate these wonderful items as well!
Please keep in mind that we cannot ship any liquids… so no nail polish, liquid glue, poster paints… you get the idea!

Operation Christmas Child

Currently Collecting:

Personal Items & School Supplies

Operation Christmas Child has been collecting personal items such as flip flops, tshirts, hair accessories, brushes/combs, etc.  We will continue to collect these items, but we are also watching as school supplies go on sale.  Therefore, if you see those great deals popping up on school supplies, feel free to donate these wonderful items as well!

Please keep in mind that we cannot ship any liquids… so no nail polish, liquid glue, poster paints… you get the idea!

Operation Christmas Child

Currently Collecting:

Personal Items & School Supplies

Operation Christmas Child has been collecting personal items such as flip flops, tshirts, hair accessories, brushes/combs, etc.  We will continue to collect these items, but we are also watching as school supplies go on sale.  Therefore, if you see those great deals popping up on school supplies, feel free to donate these wonderful items as well!

Please keep in mind that we cannot ship any liquids… so no nail polish, liquid glue, poster paints… you get the idea!

Operation Christmas Child

Currently Collecting: Personal Items (Hair brushes/combs, barrettes, flip flops, t-shirts, socks, etc)
Challenge: We have been challenged to add a WOW! element to our shoeboxes.  If you like to shop and scout for deals, maybe this is the thing for you!  Keep your eyes open for special ways to bless these children!
Ideas include: Soccer ball with pump, Stuffed animal, Toys (puppets, trucks, etc.), Doll (baby, Barbie, etc.), Musical instrument, Outfit, Shoes

Operation Christmas Child

Currently Collecting: Personal Items (Hair brushes/combs, barrettes, flip flops, t-shirts, socks, etc)
Challenge: We have been challenged to add a WOW! element to our shoeboxes.  If you like to shop and scout for deals, maybe this is the thing for you!  Keep your eyes open for special ways to bless these children!
Ideas include: Soccer ball with pump, Stuffed animal, Toys (puppets, trucks, etc.), Doll (baby, Barbie, etc.), Musical instrument, Outfit, Shoes

Operation Christmas Child

Currently Collecting: Personal Items (Hair brushes/combs, barrettes, flip flops, t-shirts, socks, etc)

Challenge: We have been challenged to add a WOW! element to our shoeboxes.  If you like to shop and scout for deals, maybe this is the thing for you!  Keep your eyes open for special ways to bless these children!

Ideas include: Soccer ball with pump, Stuffed animal, Toys (puppets, trucks, etc.), Doll (baby, Barbie, etc.), Musical instrument, Outfit, Shoes

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child collects items throughout the year. As we enter the fall, the items are packaged into shoe boxes and sent to children around the world to show God’s love.  Over the years that this ministry has existed under Samaritan’s Purse efforts have continued to increase in sharing God’s love.  Each shoe box has materials for the kids to teach them the Good News of Jesus, they have the opportunity to attend classes, much like Vacation Bible School here, that teaches them this in personal, culturally relevant ways.  It is exciting to read the stories of how these shoe boxes are impacting the lives of children, even as they become adults as we got to hear from Azima in April here at Life Bridge.  Let’s keep the stories going…

Here is what is currently happening:

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child collects items throughout the year. As we enter the fall, the items are packaged into shoeboxes and sent to children around the world to show God’s love.  Over the years that this ministry has existed under Samaritan’s Purse efforts have continued to increase in sharing God’s love.  Each shoebox has materials for the kids to teach them the Good News of Jesus, they have the opportunity to attend classes, much like Vacation Bible School here, that teaches them this in personal, culturally relevant ways.  It is exciting to read the stories of how these shoeboxes are impacting the lives of children, even as they become adults as we got to hear from Azima in April here at Life Bridge.  Let’s keep the stories going…

Here is what is currently happening:
Currently Collecting: Small toys
Challenge: We have been challenged to add a WOW! element to our shoeboxes.  If you like to shop and scout for deals, maybe this is the thing for you!  Keep your eyes open for special ways to bless these children! 
Ideas include: Soccer ball with pump, Stuffed animal, Toys (puppets, trucks, etc.), Doll (baby, Barbie, etc.), Musical instrument, Outfit, Shoes 

Operation Christmas Child

Last Saturday OCC had their annual Bunco Fundraiser.  Their goal was to raise $500 toward the mailing of the OCC shoe boxes.  With approximately 30 people participating, and among much fun and laughter, they met their goal!

While it is awesome that this goal was met, God was at work in conversations throughout the event.  We continue to pray for the seeds that are planted locally as we reach out globally.

We will continue to take donations of washcloths and soap, but are now focusing on small toys, such as small balls, matchbox cars, kids’ meal toys, etc.

Currently Collecting: Small Toys

OCC Shoebox Bunco THIS SATURDAY!

Saturday, Bunco April 23rd 2-4pm

Cost: $10 Tickets are available at the door.

All proceeds will go toward helping with shipping of the shoeboxes to kids around the world.

Join the fun and help support this ministry! Friends and family are welcome to participate.

Get your Bunco ticket online at OCC Shoebox Bunco

Currently Collecting: Washcloths & Soap

OCC Shoebox Bunco

Saturday, Bunco April 23rd 2-4pm

Cost: $10 All proceeds will go toward helping with shipping of the shoeboxes to kids around the world.

Join the fun and help support this ministry!  Friends and family are welcome to participate.

Get your Bunco ticket online at OCC Shoebox Bunco

Currently Collecting: Washcloths & Soap

OCC Special Guest this Sunday!

Join us this Sunday to hear first hand from a shoebox recipient!  Hear what God is doing around the world through our donations.

Special Upcoming Dates:

• Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 Join us to hear from an OCC Shoebox recipient, Azima Ndimbe from Cameroon at either of our weekend services (9 & 11am)
• Saturday, Bunco April 23rd 2-4pm $10 All proceeds will go toward helping with shipping of the shoeboxes to kids around the world.

Get your Bunco ticket online at OCC Shoebox Bunco
Currently Collecting: Washcloths & Soap

Operation Christmas Child

Special Upcoming Dates:

• Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 Join us to hear from an OCC Shoebox recipient, Azima Ndimbe from Cameroon at either of our weekend services (9 & 11am)
• Saturday, Bunco April 23rd 2-4pm $10 All proceeds will go toward helping with shipping of the shoeboxes to kids around the world.

Get your Bunco ticket online at OCC Shoebox Bunco
Currently Collecting:
Washcloths & Soap

Operation Christmas Child

Special Upcoming Dates:

• Sunday, April 3rd, 2016  Join us to hear from an OCC Shoebox recipient, Azima Ndimbe from Cameroon at either of our weekend services (9 & 11am)
• Saturday, Bunco April 23rd 2-4pm $10 

Currently Collecting: Washcloths & Soap

Operation Christmas Child Family Movie Night

This past Friday, August 1st, Life Bridge hosted a Family Movie Night to support a world-wide outreach called Operation Christmas Child (OCC).  Families were asked to donate school supplies, toys, or personal care items to be used to fill shoe boxes that will be shipped to kids around the world this Christmas.  Goals for the evening were to raise awareness of OCC and its impact on kids around the world, collect items for shoe boxes, and to have fun together!

Coordinators, Teresa Cervik and Cathy Mann, were joined by Deanna Heslin, Sharon Qualkenbush, and Stephanie Gladney succeeded in putting together a fun-filled evening that met these goals.  Adults and kids alike learned about how kids around the world are both experiencing God's love through these shoe boxes, and learning about God personally as the read books and have the opportunity to attend classes that teach them about Jesus - God's gift to them.  After a dinner, everyone participated in Bingo for prizes, and then movie and popcorn time!

A special thanks goes out, not only to these ladies, but also to Jason Gladney, our bingo caller, and Dave Grassl, our expert popcorn maker (what movie is complete without popcorn?), and everyone who supplied items for Operation Christmas Child!

Life Bridge's goal is to put together 150 boxes.  If you missed this event, and would still like to contribute to this outreach project, collections are ongoing.  Simply collect items from the list below, and drop them in the marked receptacles in the cafe at your convenience.

Great Job Team!!  I can't wait for the Rummage "No Sale" on August 23rd, which also supports OCC.  I love seeing how God works!


Gift Suggestions
TOYS: Include items that children will immediately embrace such as dolls, toy cars, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, balls, toys that light up and make noise (with extra batteries), etc.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: pens, pencils and sharpeners, crayons, markers, notebooks, paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

NON-LIQUID HYGIENE ITEMS: toothbrushes, bar soap, combs, washcloths, etc.

ACCESSORIES: t-shirts, socks, hats, sunglasses, hair clips, jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries), etc.

A PERSONAL NOTE: You may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. If you include your name and address, the child may be able to write back.

DO NOT INCLUDE: Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans.

Operation Christmas Child Needs Your Gently Used School Supplies

Operation Christmas Child is Collecting Gently Used School Supplies
The Operation Christmas Child team is looking for used school supplies to recycle and use in filling shoeboxes later this year. We have set a goal of 150 boxes, so we need all the help we can get! Right now we’re asking that if you have leftover pens, pencils and especially notebooks or filler paper with clean pages left to bring them to Life Bridge and drop them off in the OCC donation box in the café area. 

Operation Christmas Child Donation Box

Operation Christmas Child Donation Box

It’s been a long, cold winter and it seems it will just not go away.  Yet we know that eventually spring and even summer will be here.  As we anticipate the warmer weather, probably the last thing on our minds is Christmas.  But, it’s never too early to gather supplies to fill shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  Last year Life Bridge Christian Church was able to supply 85 shoeboxes filled with gifts that represent God’s love to children in need.  Let’s at least double that number in 2014!

Personal items, school supplies, small toys and such bring great joy to these children throughout the world because most of them have so little or have lost so much.  For the next few months, we will be focusing on personal items.  As you are out shopping, would you be willing to pick up a few extra items?  Here are a few suggestions – 

• toothbrushes and toothpaste (Town & Country has these on sale this week!);
• gentle soap;
• washcloths (you can buy packs of 18 for $4 at Walmart or Dollar General);
• socks;
• combs, brushes, hair ribbons, and barrettes;
• t-shirts;
• hats, gloves, and scarves; and 
• flip flops.  

Of course, if you want to bring in other items, that would be a great blessing as well.  Keep in mind that many of these children live in war-torn countries so please do not include anything of that nature, such as toy guns or toy soldiers or anything of a violent nature.

There will be a drop box in the café area for your donations. If you would like more information about Operation Christmas Child, go to www.samaritanspurse.org.