Operation Christmas Child part 2

This is my second post about Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child, you can read the first here.

Though I've been making boxes for many, many years, this year was the first time I got any further involved. A woman from my parent's church has been delivering the church's boxes and helping sort them for years and this year as I happened to be free when she went, I went along too.
I really had a lovely day making these boxes and helping in the warehouse, it felt very festive and I spent a lot of time trying to fit as much into each box as possible.

Hundreds and thousands of boxes arrive into regional warehouses. 

The boxes are opened by volunteers and checked for anything inappropriate such as war toys or medicines.  Nothing else is taken out of the boxes, even if a box contains10 toothbrushes, they will be left in and other items added to it.

Every box with space in had more items added, lots of people donate directly to the warehouse and often companies donate spare items too.  I was rather in awe of the amazing knitted hats, jumpers, scarves and mittens.

 

 

  

 Once the boxes have been checked and any more items added, they are taped up, have a sticker with the appropriate age and gender put on and then are put in bigger boxes with other shoe boxes for the same age and gender. 

These big boxes are then ready to be sent overseas.

 

 I was really pleased to be able to be involved this year, I hope I'll a chance to help more.