We are so blessed to be a part of this charity. To help children in need is something that will always be a worthwhile aim. I must confess that I have always felt somewhat guilty looking back at Christmas time, as we ate great food, in great abundance and opened numerous presents as a family, there was that sense that others were not only without presents, but also without food. Now we have a chance to do at least a little to help out at Christmas time.
Sarah Smith is an author and leads a writers group in Dungarvan and also attends the Church. She has been writing articles in the local newspapers to inform people about Operation Christmas Child put on by the Samaritans Purse organization. The articles will be posted as they are published. Here is what has been written so far:
Dungarvan’s participation in Operation Christmas Child to Be Coordinated by Dungarvan Christian Fellowship
The members of Dungarvan Christian Fellowship are excited to begin coordinating Dungarvan’s participation in the widely popular charity, Operation Christmas Child. Several of the members, including Rev. Cliff Gregston, will be handing out flyers and giving presentations in schools and local businesses in support of this Samaritan’s Purse charity, which collects shoe boxes filled with presents for children in third world countries who would otherwise not receive Christmas gifts. Last year, around 1,350 shoe boxes were collected in the Dungarvan area, and those at the Fellowship hope to maintain such a spirit of generosity this year.
Dungarvan Christian Fellowship is Dungarvan’s first Evangelical/non-denominational church, yet is one of at least 130 Evangelical/non-denominational churches in Ireland. These churches have an average of 100 members. Having started in January 2007, Dungarvan Christian Fellowship has 38 members and still has lots of room to grow. They currently meet at the Clonea Strand Hotel on Sunday mornings at 11am.
As well as coordinating Operation Christmas Child for the Dungarvan area, members of Dungarvan Christian Fellowship will also be hosting an Alpha Course, which starts the 8th of October.
For information about any of these projects/events, please contact Cliff Gregston 087-6656173 / (058)22853 or visit the websites below:
www.dungarvanchurch.org
www.evangelical.ie
www.alphacourse.ie
www.samaritanpurse.ie
How to be Involved With Operation Christmas Child 2007
We all wonder what we can do for children who are caught in the midst of wars, natural disasters and extreme poverty. We want to show them that we haven’t forgotten them. This is what a shoe box filled with gifts can mean for a child in countries such as Armenia, Belarus, Swaziland, and Nepal. These boxes will be collected at Unicare Pharmacy, Dungarvan Alternative Health Centre on Pookeen Lane, Curves Fitness in the Dungarvan Shopping Centre and also by Cliff Gregston, who can be contacted at 087-6656173.
Many have wondered what these boxes can be filled with. These children will be blessed by receiving something to love. This can include a small ball, a cuddly toy, a finger puppet, a jigsaw puzzle, a yo-yo, building blocks, or a small musical instrument. For boys this item could be a toy truck or cars; for girls, a doll, clip-on earrings, make up or hair accessories. A child in these countries would also benefit greatly from educational supplies such as felt pens, pens, pencils, pencil sharpener, eraser, copy book, chalk, colouring book, pencil case, stickers, notepad, and picture / puzzle book.
Make sure to include a toothbrush, toothpaste and a facecloth with every box. Many children look forward to this simple gesture, since most will not have regular access to these items. Also, a hairbrush, comb, hair clips and wrapped soap will be received with great joy. These little items that we can take for granted here are precious and greatly desired by many of these children.
You can also include something the child can wear such as gloves, hat, scarf, sunglasses, cap, hat, socks or other small items of new clothing. If you include sweets make sure it is not chocolate (which might melt in transit) and also make sure the sell-by date is at least March of next year.
The following are items that cannot or should not be packed into the boxes:
§ FOOD any other edible items (such as tinned food, crisps, biscuits, cakes)
§ MEDICINE any medicine or vitamins
§ WAR RELATED ITEMS toy guns, soldiers or knives
§ CLOTHING larger items of clothing (other than those listed above)
§ FRAGILE ITEMS glass or mirrors
§ LIQUIDS of any kind, including blow bubbles, shampoo, bubble bath, toiletry sets or aerosols
§ DANGEROUS ITEMS sharp objects, scissors, razors or marbles
§ BOOKS with words
Although you are encouraged to wrap your shoe boxes, all of the shoe boxes must have fully detachable lids that are not sealed. Every box must be inspected by customs and those boxes which have lids that are attached or sealed cannot be shipped to the children. This would mean that the lid of the box would need to be wrapped separately from the rest of the box. It is also requested that €3 (or more) be enclosed with every box, and it is preferred, for security reasons, to give this in the form of a cheque. This year’s final collection date will be the 9th of November. You can find brochures in your local shops to answer any further questions.
“For some of the world’s most disadvantaged children, your shoe box could be the first Christmas present they have ever received.”~ Samaritan’s Purse
