It's That Time Again

Christmas is on the way, and it's that time again.  Time to fill a shoebox that gets distributed to third-world and underprivileged children all over the world.  An organization called Samaritan's Purse, begun by Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, is responsible for collecting and distributing the boxes.

My church has been participating in this project for several years.  This morning the youth group showed a short promotional video about "Operation Christmas Child".  It brought tears to my eyes. 

The idea is to fill a shoebox with "gifts".  Things like pencils, crayons, small toys or suffed animals, toothpaste, hair accessories, coloring  books, hard candies, etc--anything that will fit in the box.  Each box can be designated by age group and gender.  Add a small, pre-determined financial contribution to help cover shipping and you're good to go. 

I look forward to this every year.  It's so much fun walking around the store, imagining the excitement of the child who will receive my box.  It's such a small thing, but it means so much to the children. 

This year I got a head-start on filling my shoe box.  I had the foresight to buy some goodies when the stores were offering their back-to-school sales in late August.  A number of years ago I heard a saying at one of my photography marketing classes.  "Money spent is money forgotten".  So now that I've "forgotten" the money I spent on those sale goodies, I get to go out and buy some more for a second shoe box! 

I'm psyched.