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, 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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Puedes bendecir niños alrededor del mundo al orar y empacar cajas llenas de juguetes, útiles escolares y productos de higiene. ¡Ya viene la Semana Nacional de Recolección, del 18 al 25 de noviembre!
¡Aprende hoy cómo empacar una caja de regalos!