Christmas Shoe Box Ministry This is one of the most joyous ministries we offer, heralding in a season ripe with anticipation.  Your treasure filled shoe boxes have brought so much love and joy to children who have so little and now, in our 6th year, the children eagerly anticipate their arrival.  But your gifts are much more than the playthings inside.  Your gifts tell a child that he or she matters, that they are remembered and cared for by a community in Christ far beyond the impoverished world around them. To participate in this ministry, just follow the simple guidelines below.  And please remember that the children live in small houses with large families, no electricity, and usually very little in the way of toys. The container: A plastic box, called a “shoe box” in some stores, which is about the size of an actual shoe box. Please do not use an oversized box - they are very hard to pack and ship. The directions: 1. A few nice toys, not lots of small toys, and please no fragile items.  We have included a list of suggested items below. 2. Do not seal the box, but if the lid refuses to stay on, use a small piece of tape or a rubber band to keep it in place. 3. Mark each box according to the sex of the child and age range (3- 6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-14).  If you want a particular scholarship child to receive your box, clearly label the box with the child's name. 4. Pack shoe boxes in a shipping box which is not too large. Big, heavy containers break in transit, damaging the contents.  For bulk shoe box shipments a standard 18x18x16 shipping box holds 9 shoe boxes perfectly.  If possible, please pack boxes with loose Dollar Store/Goodwill balls and/or SAFE lightweight items that Pere Bruno can use to hand out to the children in Terrier Rouge who do not attend school and therefore do not receive a shoe box.  You may also used crumpled newspaper but please do NOT use styrofoam packing peanuts and do not allow UPS to use them if they will be packing your boxes. 5. Ship boxes to: Bill Grow   3012 Brookmont Drive  Tallahassee, FL 32312 The shipping costs: Shipping items to Haiti is costly so we are asking that you please send $5.00 to offset some of the shipping costs. Mail your payment (not the shoe boxes) to Bethlehem Ministry, 386 Milledge Circle, Athens, GA  30606.  Please note in the memo line of the check that it is designated for the Shoe Box Program. The deadline: Boxes must arrive in Tallahassee between October 16 and October 31, 2010. Hats and sports caps, balls of all sorts, toy cars, trucks, and planes, Legos, binoculars, tattoos, stickers, dolls, stuffed animals, ponytail holders and barrettes, jump ropes, plastic animals, sets of decorative beads to make jewelry, music boxes, musical instruments, kitchen sets, makeup kits, nice church socks with lace, fun clothes, small bars of soap and washcloths, coloring books and crayons, art supplies of all kinds, games such as dominoes and marbles. If purchasing items for older children, please consider including calculators, compasses, protractors, and other school supplies. SUGGESTED ITEMS FOR SHOE BOX WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE Used items Guns Liquids, including shampoo, lotion, liquid soap, and bubbles Perishable food items Chocolate or any type of candy - it melts Medicines, vitamins, ointments, etc. Breakable items such as mirrors and snow globes Animals that “grow” when placed in water.  (These often come in candy shaped capsules that children like to eat!)