Christmas Boxes

I just got home from working at Samaritan's Purse warehouse. Samaritan's Purse is the charity that runs Operation Christmas Child, where ordinary people pack shoeboxes full of gifts, which are then shipped to third world countries and distributed to needy children. I went with three other ladies from church, and we were assigned to the checking line. Standing at long worktables, we opened each box, checked the contents for improper items, added filler toys or candy to boxes that were too empty, then taped them closed and sent them down the conveyor belt. Some of the improper items we might find were chocolate (it melts), snakes (they are worshipped in some cultures), weapons, liquids, breakables, and food (Customs always confiscates it). Some toys, such as action figures, include weapons, so the weapon had to be removed if possible. If not possible, then the whole toy had to be tossed. This was the third year I've done it, and it is lots of fun, although tiring. By the time we left at 5:00, over 19,000 boxes had been processed in our center in one day!