FCCEM marks its third year as an operation christmas Child drop-off location

Since 2003, we've taken the first months of fall each year to invite people to collect and donate age- and gender-appropriate gifts for children in developing nations through an outreach ministry called Operation Christmas Child (OCC). Donors and we as a church then pack the gifts into shoe box-sized boxes for delivery to children around the world through the auspices of Samaritan's Purse, which created the shoe box ministry.


In 2018, we took the next step in our OCC journey by serving for the first time as a drop-off location, meaning that we gathered into cartons the shoe boxes other churches, groups, and individuals dropped off, then transported those cartons to the Quad Cities' central processing location in Davenport. 


Last year we bested by more than 50% the total number of boxes we packaged as a drop-location in 2018. This year - this pandemic-stained year - we expected a lower number of boxes than either of the previous two years, but to our surprise, this year we processed 1,237 boxes, including 134 from FCCEM - not as many as last year (1,598), but more than 2018 (1,059), AND far more than we expected in this COVID season. If you helped us create, process, and/or deliver boxes or cartons of boxes, THANK YOU!


This is a challenging year for nearly every ministry of every church in every nation of the globe. But for our OCC ministry this year, as in every year, God provided.


Below are some images from  this year's drop-off location ministry at FCCEM:

(ARCHIVE) FCCEM AS AN OCC DROP-OFF LOCATION

We're set for another eight day "week" of welcoming the gift-filled boxes created by other churches, groups, and individuals. There's a good bit of effort required on our end in order to process the boxes we receive: 

  • We welcome guests
  • We fill out a bit of paperwork
  • We pack and seal donated boxes in cartons
  • We transport cartons to the Quad Cities distribution center in Davenport

If you can help us with any of those tasks, we'd love to include you on our team. Tell us about your interest, either by phone (309.755.6552) or by a visit to OUR "CONTACT US" PAGE.


Here's the schedule our drop-off location will keep for this year's collection week:


Monday-Friday, November 16-20: 10:00 a.m.-Noon / 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 21: 9:00-11:00 a.m. / 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 22: 2:00-4:00 p.m. / 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Monday, November 23: 8:00-10:00 a.m.


Of course, we'd love to welcome you and the boxes you want to donate through our drop-off location! Simply find some time during our open hours and stop by to share your love. It's a simple yet powerful demonstration of the power of God's people. [NOTE: Out of concern for the health and safety of all who work at and visit our drop-off location, we ask you to wear a mask when you deliver your box(es).]

(ARCHIVE) what to donate, how to pack

Here's a list of recommended items that you can donate for the OCC boxes our church will create, or that you can use to create one or more boxes of your own (you can download this list by clicking the OCC logo to the left of this article):


ALL AGES

TOYS! Start with a central item that a child will cherish, like a beautiful doll, a deflated soccer ball with pump, or a plush stuffed animal. Then add quality items like cars, musical instruments, puzzles, jump ropes, etc. School Supplies such as pencils, pens,

crayons, notebooks, coloring books, etc. Hygiene Items such as toothbrushes, bar soap, washcloths, combs, etc.

ACCESSORIES such as socks, hats, t-shirts, flip-flops, hair bands, sunglasses, etc. A Personal Not e and photo of you and your family/group. If you include your name and address, the child may be able to write

back.


Younger Children:

Blankets, sticker and picture books, blocks, finger puppets, pages of colorful stickers.

Older Children:

Small tools, tape measures, sewing kits, fabric squares, etc; deflated balls with pumps and needles; solar calculators, rulers, scissors; jewelry; deodorant


DO NOT INCLUDE:

Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; seeds; chocolate or food; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans.



Use the items you purchase to create your own boxes, or call us to set up a time to deliver your items to our church so that we can use them at our boxing party on November 21 (see below).

(ARCHIVE) the fccem boxing party 2020

Join us as we create the shoe boxes we'll donate as a church to Operation Christmas Child. We'll use items donated to us throughout the year, as well as items that come to us from other sources, including donations in response to this webpage, to create as many boxes as possible.


In past years, our boxing parties have included a potluck meal, but the COVID-19 pandemic compels us to cancel that meal this year. So the box packing will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 21. Join us!


NOTE: You do NOT have to donate any box items in order to join us for this box creation event. Let your time and effort be your donation.


BOX CREATION EVENT: Saturday, November 21, 6:00 p.m.