Christmas Gift Boxes & Pocket Flag Project – November 2019
We are anticipating with excitement gathering with many of you on Friday, November 8th, 2019 from 6:30-8:30pm at Avalon Church (www.avalonchurch.org) for an evening of service as OMMA holds its next Group Service Project! For those who are newer to OMMA (and as a reminder to our veterans), twice each year we sponsor Group Outreach Projects where we “Take it out of the Dojo” and gather together to serve others in various ways. We have been doing this at least twice a year since 2008. These are “hands-on” projects designed for all ages. We have folks from toddlers to grandparents and everyone in between who link arms and hearts to make an eternal difference in the lives of people near and far.
DONATE TO PROJECT!
If you’d like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the project, we will allocate 100% of your donation to the items needed below.
Our Main Project at the Group Service Project will be to make Christmas Gift Boxes in support of Operation Christmas Child.
For our newer students who haven’t done this with us yet, we collect a bunch of gift items (see below for details) and then on our project night we unpack and organize what is donated and distribute them to as many shoe boxes as we can fill. Last year was our best year ever (2018) we put together 306 boxes as a group and I am hopeful that we can equal or top that this time! THANK YOU!!
If you are willing and able to contribute any of the items on the list below for us to pack in shoeboxes to be delivered to the kids, that would be great! Please let me know what you might have in mind so I can get an idea of where we stand. You can bring these items to any of our classes and we’ll store them at the Dojo until the night of the event.
The other portion of our overall Project is to prepare 600 mini-US flags for our armed forces personnel deployed overseas through the Pocket Flag Project.
Since Friday also happens to be during Veteran’s Day weekend, this portion of the Project should be especially meaningful to demonstrate our gratitude for those who sacrifice to ensure our precious freedoms.
Here is a link to the website of the Pocket Flag Project if you’re interested in more information: http://www.pocketflagproject.com/
Items Needed for Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes
TOYS
Small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.
A PERSONAL NOTE
In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.)
OTHER
T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)
HYGIENE ITEMS
Toothbrush, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc. (They don’t allow toothpaste in the boxes any more.)
DO NOT INCLUDE:
Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; gum or candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans; toothpaste