Find out why Ava and Sam love to pack shoeboxes!
Oklahoma youngsters Ava and Sam hold a friendly competition each year to see who can pack the most Operation Christmas Child gift-filled shoeboxes. But, win or lose, their real goal is the same—to see kids all over the world come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Ava and Sam love to pack shoeboxes. The two Oklahoma children started a friendly competition a few years ago to see who could pack the most Operation Christmas Child gift-filled shoeboxes. Usually Ava wins. But last year they tied. They each packed 126 boxes. This year, they each plan to prepare 150 to 200 shoeboxes for children in need overseas.
Ava and Sam pack shoeboxes from Oklahoma for kids in need around the world.
Ava, who lives in Ada, creates unique dolls with floral wire and flowers and sells them to raise money to buy toys, school supplies, and hygiene items to fill her shoeboxes. Three hours away in Stilwell, Sam makes rock necklaces to finance his boxes.
“I think it’s important to put quality items in a shoebox,” Ava said. Sam agrees. To that end, they each shop year round to find cool stuff on sale that will wow the recipients.
Ava loves to include sewing kits in her girl shoeboxes, while Sam makes sure to pack a T-shirt and a pair of socks in each of his. “The thing that [the kids] like the most is something they can put on immediately,” Sam said.
Ava and Sam are serious about their friendly rivalry, and they each really want to win. But, win or lose, their real goal is the same—to introduce kids all over the world to Jesus Christ and see them accept Him as their Lord and Savior. And that’s a win for everybody.
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You can bless children around the world by prayerfully packing shoeboxes full of toys, school supplies, and hygiene items. National Collection Week is coming up, Nov. 18-25!
Learn how to pack a shoebox today!
