If you’re familiar with Operation Christmas Child, I’d like to tell you about a similar idea that will benefit the less fortunate in the Oklahoma City metro area.
Feed His Sheep, a local ministry that feeds and serves the homeless every Sunday morning in downtown OKC, is gathering donations to facilitate their annual Shoeboxes for the Homeless endeavor.
The size of the crowd they serve each week varies, but typically ranges from 70 – 120 people. This year, they would like to provide each person with their own wrapped shoe box filled with things that will make their life on the street just a little easier.
My favorite part about the Feed His Sheep ministry is that they are in the trenches every. single. week. rubbing elbows with the least of these, loving on them and forming relationships that embody the love of Christ!
You Can Help
If you’d like to help with Shoeboxes for the Homeless, there are a few different ways you can do so:
- Pack your own shoebox(es)
- Contribute items for the shoeboxes – this is a great use for many of the items you may get for FREE and cheap with coupons. I recently used coupons to purchase a bunch of VO5 hair care products to donate.
- Make a donation to this paypal account ree12452000@yahoo.com or through Venmo to @Reisha-Moraine and add “shoeboxes” to the memo. A member of the ministry will do your shopping for you and then email you to let you know what was purchased with your contribution.
Donations Suggestions
1. Toiletries (hygiene, chapstick, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap in lunch size ziploc, q-tips)
2. Baby wipes
3. Travel tissues
5. Snacks (Slim Jims, peanut butter crackers, honey buns, Little Debbie snacks, soup packets where you just add hot water, etc)
6. Instant coffee w/packets of sugar and cream, instant hot chocolate, single serving size of drink mix for bottled water
7. Rain ponchos
8. Travel first aid kits (or most common items found in a first aid kit)
9. Flash lights with extra batteries
10. $5 Gift cards (McDonald’s, Taco Bell, subway, sonic)
11. Hand and body warmers
12. Socks
13. Fleece gloves /hats/ scarves
14. New underwear (men and women)
15. Garage bags to help keep their items dry
16. Toilet paper in gallon size Ziploc bag
17. Devotions
18. Bibles (large print)
19. Crossword/Word Search type books
20. Playing cards
Items are not limited to this list. You can donate basically anything you can think of that fits in a shoe box.
Where to Drop Off Your Items
There are currently three drop off locations.
- South Edmond: send DM to Reisha for details
- Edmond: send DM to Reisha for details
- Mustang/Yukon: send DM to Reisha for details
- OR email feedhissheep@yahoo.com and they will reply back ASAP with the addresses or arrange pick up.
Save Time & Money
If you’re planning on giving, you can save time and money by checking out these bulk care packages from Dollar Tree. Dollar Tree offers FREE in-store pickup for any online order provided your items are in stock at your assigned distribution center.
The deadline for shoe boxes or items is December 12th.
What are you waiting for? Add Shoeboxes for the Homeless to your list of ways to give back this holiday season. This is a great way to serve as a family and teach children how to be the hands and feet of Christ and help put a smile on the face of someone who is cold, hungry, lonely and going through a very difficult time.