Think Christmas. In October.

Yes. I know. It's October. You're still thinking Thanksgiving, Halloween, Reformation Day - all the major holidays you love to celebrate.

But now is the time to think Christmas.

Okay, okay, hear me out. 

Think of this - a child who's never celebrated Christmas the way we do in North America. A child who's never celebrated a birthday the way we do in North America. 

Think of this - a child being blessed by a total stranger; feeling Jesus' love and gift through a simple, practical shoebox.

If you've never heard of Operation Christmas Child, it's a program run by Samaritan's Purse to bless children in need all around the world. You fill a shoebox with gifts like school supplies, hygiene items, and toys, and it gets delivered to a happy boy or girl (who may have never received something like this before).

I remember participating in packing a shoebox as a child - it was so much fun to pick out things for another kid somewhere on the other side of the world. Thing is, I have just as much fun doing it now!

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 135 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 150 countries and territories. Let's keep that number growing!

Interested in getting a box and participating in this awesome (and fun!) cause? Find more information, sign up, and fill a shoebox here. If you need more motivation, watch this video to see a child receiving their first gift: From a First Gift to the Best Gift. 

As an aside, since Halloween is coming up - if you weren't sure what to use as your costume, don't worry. I've got you covered. An Operation Christmas Child shoebox.