WIN a trip to the Dominican Republic With Me and OCC!
Wanna join me? Wanna HAND DELIVER your Operation Christmas Child Shoebox in the Dominican Republic?
Watch the video below or read this post to see how you can enter for a chance to do just that!
Earlier this year, I shared my journey with you as I traveled with Operation Christmas Child to hand deliver shoeboxes to children in need in Ecuador. I felt like you were with me on that journey and I am so grateful for your prayers and your ears as you let me share my experience with you. Seeing firsthand what a difference a simple shoebox packed with love can make in the life of a child changed me forever. Kids crying with joy over receiving small toys, pencils, even counting a toothbrush as their most prized posession, Â opens your eyes to an entirely different part of our world.
These things changed me, but they also changed the children and that is thanks to people like you who took the time to pack a shoebox.
This year marks the 100 millionth shoebox that OCC has delivered to children all over the world and to commemorate this very special year, I’m teaming up with Operation Christmas Child to go on another invitation only distribution trip to the Dominican Republic, but guess what?
OCC is going to choose one of YOU to go with me!
One of you will get to join me on this life changing trip and HAND DELIVER your shoebox!
 TO ENTER:Â
1. Fill a shoe box for a child. Be sure to include treats (small toys, double bagged hard candy, etc), school supplies (pencils, pencil sharpener, colored pencils) and personal hygiene items (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste). Most of all, put your heart into filling the box and make sure you add some things with special meaning to you.
2. Take a photo of the shoe box gift.
3. Send the photo and an e-mail telling us why your box is special and why you should get to go hand-deliver shoe box gifts with Christy Jordan to:Â occ@southernplate.comÂ
PRIZE:
All expense paid Operation Christmas Child distribution trip to Dominican Republic with Christy Jordan.Â
The trip dates are December 4-7, 2012.Â
 Entries must be received by midnight, November 2, 2012.Â
For complete Rules and Details, see below.
After you send an email, I encourage you to share your photo on Facebook and Pinterest and ask your friends to pack a shoe box gift for Operation Christmas Child! Be sure to tag their page www.facebook.com/OCC_shoeboxes and if you’d like to tag me at Facebook.com/southernplatefamily , I’d love to read your story there, too!
The 4 finalists not chosen will receive one of the following prizes: Signed Scotty McCreery Christmas Album or an OCC Christmas Ornament Set
Questions and Help Packing Shoeboxes:
What goes in an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox?
*For a complete instruction sheet on how to pack a shoebox as well as printable labels to tape onto your shoebox denoting the gender and age range that it is intended for, please click here.
*Find a drop off location near you by clicking here.Â
*For all other information as well as more details, photos, and more about Operation Christmas Child, please click here.Â
*For a wonderful list of ideas to include in your shoeboxes, visit my dear friend Kelly’s post 101 Ways To Pack A Shoebox
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Watch a Video from my trip with Operation Christmas Child
Rules and Details
Entries will be judged on impact, photo, and story quality. The top 5 submissions will be selected by Christy Jordan and then sent to Operation Christmas Child to pick the winner. Entries must be submitted by Friday, November 2. Operation Christmas Child will select a winner the week of November 5th. The winner will be notified by email and will have two business days to respond and claim the prize. If the selected winner cannot attend the trip December 4 -7, 2012, or does not respond and claim the prize, Operation Christmas Child will select another winner from the remaining top 4 submissions. All winner selections will be final and in the sole discretion of Operation Christmas Child. Residents of the United States 18 years of age and older are eligible to win. Distribution trip has no retail value and no replacement prize will be offered to selected winner who is unable to attend on the prescribed dates, Travel expenses covered includes round-trip coach airfare, hotel, and meals while in the Dominican Republic. If an expedited passport is required, Operation Christmas Child will reimburse for expediting costs. Entrant warrants that it is the copyright owner of all submissions. All submissions become the property of Samaritan’s Purse and may be used for any reason and in any medium in promotion of Operation Christmas Child. This contest sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse / Operation Christmas Child, 801 Bamboo Road, Boone, NC 28607. Your submission indicates your acceptance of these Rules.Â
My Disclaimer: I voluntarily write posts about Operation Christmas Child. I am not receiving compensation for my participation, but Operation Christmas Child will provide for travel costs to the Dominican Republic for me and one contest winner. Regardless of who you are, what your station or lot in life is, and your religious affiliation or lack thereof, I firmly believe that everyone CAN change the world for the better, and we should all try.Â
What a wonderful contest! I dream of one day being able to deliver OCC boxes. For now though, I will continue to fill my boxes and pray for those who receive them. I love the OCC stories on their FB page.
Can’t wait to see the updates on the winner and follow them and you on the trip!!
Blessings!
sharon 🙂
We do this every year! Love it! What a difference these shoe boxes make in the lives of children. My husband said he really looks forward to this! It really makes me feel good as well.
A trip like this would be wonderful however my doctor would never let me travel outside the US because of my heart condition but I see there is a drop off place here in Newton,Ia so i will do a couple boxes and drop them off before the deadline.
This is awesome!!!
To clarify do you wrap the plastic box – I am sorry for so many comments. I am so excited to enter, I would so love to go on a trip like this!
It’s a joy getting all of these great questions, don’t apologize! I wrap the plastic box, then the plastic lid, then fill the box and put the lid on 🙂
Anything else comes up, ask away!
Gratefully,
Christy
I was just wondering if the winner has been announced yet. I am on pins and needles waiting to hear. 🙂
Another idea is to line the shoebox with decorative tissue paper, then place the items in the box. They can’t see the presents inside and it makes the box more festive. Last year at the Atlanta, they suggested plastic bowls, cups, etc. Don’t wrap individual items in the box; they will all be unwrapped and checked.
Also I have a question – I noticed you used plastic boxes instead of an actual cardboard shoeboxes. Is that because the plastic box can double as part of the gift and be something useful? (I am assuming the answer is yes) Also do you gift wrap the box, is that allowed?
Hey Meridith! Definitely yes! While any shoebox is appreciated, the plastic boxes are so very useful where they are sent. They can be used as a special keepsake storage box for the kids, to transport water, to hold food when needed, etc. I buy mine at Dollar General or the Dollar store for about $1.00 each. I had a little girl at one distribution come up to me with her cardboard box and beg me for a plastic one, broke my heart. You most certainly CAN wrap the boxes and it makes it extra fun! Just wrap the lid and the box separately because when they are preparing the boxes to be shipped out at the distribution center they open each one to make sure there are toiletry items, a toy, hard candy, school supplies, etc. If one of the categories is missing they add those things into the box before sealing it for travel. Thank you for such great questions!
That is such a great idea! I love it and I love things that have a dual purpose! I can see why after that experience you would only do the plastic ones. I will do the same. You can ignore the question below. Thank you so much for your reply and again I am sorry for so many comments, I am just excited! 🙂
this is amazing! what an opportunity! i’m going to start working on my shoebox! i have made one before and have been wanting to do it again!