• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
My Big Fat Cuban Family

My Big Fat Cuban Family

Recipes · Blog · Shop

  • Meet Marta
    • Media Mentions
  • Lifestyle
    • Cuban-American Life
    • My Big, Fat, Cuban Family
  • Entertainment
    • Disney
    • Marvel
    • Television
    • Concerts
    • Books
    • Theatre
  • Celebrate
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Cuban Christmas
    • Mother’s Day
    • Summer Nights
  • Recipes
    • Cuban Recipes With Pictures
    • Family Favorites
    • My Cook Book
  • Shop
    • Cuban Foods Poster
    • Cuban T-Shirts
    • Costa Rican Foods Poster
    • Honduran Foods Poster
    • Puerto Rican Foods Poster
    • Salvadoran Foods Poster
    • Scottish Foods Poster
    • Customize Your Own
    • Cuban Goodies In Your Mailbox
  • Contact
    • Advertise
  • Archives

Teaching Generosity?

November 19, 2011 By Marta Darby 2 Comments

As you know if you've been reading this blog for a while, we have homeschooled our kids. I often say that one of the reasons we have chosen to homeschool is that we're not as concerned about their academics as we are concerned about their character.

We have attempted to teach them kindness, thoughtfulness, hospitality, and generosity – high values for us – mostly by modeling them as best as we know how. Because, seriously, has anyone ever learned these kinds of things by being lectured?

How to pack a shoe box

During this time of year we love participating in Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child in which we thoughtfully and lovingly fill up a shoe box with gifts for a child on the other side of the world. We pray for our small recipient as we do so. We look forward to this small act of charity every year.

We get to go and shop for little items to put into the shoeboxes. As we're shopping, we think about what would bring a child joy.

"These trucks, Mom. I would have liked them as an 8 year old. Very cool."

"Let's get this little doll with an extra outfit. I think she's very sweet."

"Crayons! Modeling clay! Watercolors! YES!"

Shoeboxes are collected at various churches all over the country and then packed and disbursed to different places to kids around the world. What's very cool about this is that we get to track our shoebox to see where it ends up

From the Samaritan's Purse Website:

National Collection Week: November 14 – 21

Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift.

Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label by downloading the artwork to the right. Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.

Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child. 

Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using our “Follow Your Box Donation” option, or you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation.

Place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop off at the Collection Center nearest you during our collection week, November 14-21.

For locations and hours of collection visit our Drop-Off Locations page where you can find the nearest place to take your shoe box by entering your ZIP Code or you can call 1-800-353-5949.

You can also send your shoe box gift to:
Samaritan’s Purse
Operation Christmas Child

801 Bamboo Road
Boone, NC 28607

*********************************************************

Our kids have all grown up to be very generous people. I say this, not to brag but as a matter of record. Apparently the lessons were picked up somehow. My theory, then is correct. Character values are more "caught than taught."

Do you support any charities? Tell me.

{Disclaimer: Samaritan's Purse is a charity we believe in and support. I have not received any compensation from them to write this post. It's my privilege and pleasure to tell you about them.}

You might also like:

Operation Christmas Child Making believe. Default ThumbnailWhy we do what we do. The Luza Gift

Filed Under: Cuban Christmas, Current Affairs, Homeschooling, My Kids Tagged With: charity, How to pack a shoebox, Operation Christmas Child, Samaritan's Purse, shoebox, teaching character values

Previous Post: « Operation Pedro Pan. It’s been 50 years and the pain is still present.
Next Post: Our Favorite Orange County Portrait Photographer and Friend »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chantel says

    November 19, 2011 at 3:35 pm

    We just bought gifts for the Salvation Army toy drive today. It’s sweet–you pick a child’s name and gift wish off a Christmas tree. You buy the gift, plus new clothes and books. The little boy’s name is Jordin and he’s 6. My husband went crazy buying him Star Wars goodies. We usually end up doing this a few times during the holiday season. How can you pass up all those wishes on a tree and not try to make some come true? 🙂

    Reply
  2. Marta M. Darby says

    November 19, 2011 at 5:00 pm

    Chantel,I love that you got to bless young Jordin with all the Star Wars paraphernalia. I can only imagine how delighted he will be when he receives your gift.
    It feels so, so good, doesn’t it?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Try Super Smooth Cafe La Llave Espresso

Cafe La Llave

NEW! My Cuban T-Shirt Designs

“Cuban T-Shirts

Subscribe to MBFCF Newsletter!

Never miss a post! Sign up with your email address to receive recipes, news and updates right in your inbox!

Cuban Foods Poster

“Cuba

Cuban Coffee Poster

“Cuba

Cuban Desserts Poster

“Cuba poster - Cuban desserts subway art print

Get Snacking On California Strawberries!

California Strawberries

Most Recent Posts

  • Cafe La Llave Fresh From the Pod
    November 13, 2019
  • Honey Balsamic Chicken & Veggies Easy One Pan MealHoney Balsamic Chicken and Veggie One Pan Meal
    November 12, 2019
  • Havana 78 Soaps
    November 4, 2019
  • The Food of My People
    October 28, 2019
  • Celebrating Your Cubanity With Santayana Jewelers
    October 26, 2019

Cuban Recipes Cookbook

Cuban recipes with pictures cookbook from My Big Fat Cuban Family

Abuela Mami

Abuela Mami Gifts

Cuban Food Market

Cuban Food Market

Follow Me on Instagram

mybigfatcubanfamily

Instagram post 2192889795823216219_3088359303 Hello Miami. I came to play. 🇨🇺🦩😘❤️⏩ Meet me at Martha of Miami’s Tiendecita 8827 SW 40th St. on Sunday, Dec 8th between 1 & 4. ✌🏼😎
Instagram post 2192385174646205429_3088359303 I’m in Miami Beach today. 🏖 (Because I’m cool that way. ✌🏼😎) #belikemarta
Instagram post 2189483862732350936_3088359303 From the archives: 4 years ago I wrote what the death of fidel castro meant to our family and our community. It was a thoughtful, angry, moving piece. Please take a moment to read and share. [article link in☝🏼profile] Celebrating freedom today, my friends. 🇨🇺🇺🇸🎉 .
.

http://bit.ly/2OCXGzt #fidelcastroisstilldead #ohthecubanity #cuba
Instagram post 2187940253365194745_3088359303 Oye! I’m heading to Miami next week to be a judge at Croquetapalooza on Friday, Dec 6th. 🇨🇺😎 Who do YOU think has the best croquetas in Miami? (I promise I’m still impartial.😉) #Repost @croquetapalooza with @get_repost
・・・
Croquetapalooza is 1 week away, are you ready? Some tickets are still available at Croquetapalooza.com
——————
CROQUETAS
A Lo Cubano Kitchen
Babe’s Meat & Counter
Best Chefs Catering
Breadman Bakery
The Cafe 72
CAO Bakery
Captain Jim’s Seafood
Chef Billy G
Dora’s Bakery and Bistro
Dos Croquetas
El Pillao
FINKA Table & Tap
Frice Cream
Masa Craft
Smoke & Dough
Swine Croquettes
Tucker Duke’s Lunchbox
Vegan Cuban Cuisine
Vicky Bakery
————
SNACKS
Chifles
Cuban Guys
Elote Lovers
La Camaronera
Latin House
Sanguich de Miami
—————
DESSERTS
The Creamy Creations Co
Mojo Donuts
Tio Colo Bocaditos de Helado
———-
DRINKS
Cafe La Llave
CAWY (Jupiña & Materva)
Concrete Beach Brewery
Funky Buddha Brewery
J Wakefield Brewery
MIA Beer
Milca Roja
Nightlife Beer
Ojala Wine
Sunshine Bottling (IronBeer)
Tito’s Vodka
Tripping Animals Brewing
Load More...

Follow Marta On Social

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

FEATURED POSTS

  • Cafe La Llave Fresh From the Pod
    November 13, 2019
  • Honey Balsamic Chicken & Veggies Easy One Pan MealHoney Balsamic Chicken and Veggie One Pan Meal
    November 12, 2019
  • Havana 78 Soaps
    November 4, 2019
  • The Food of My People
    October 28, 2019
  • Celebrating Your Cubanity With Santayana Jewelers
    October 26, 2019

Blog Archives

Footer

Meet Marta

Marta Verdes Darby is a Cuban-American food blogger in South Orange County.

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Sign Up For My Newsletter

November 2011
M T W T F S S
« Oct   Dec »
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930  

Copyright © 2019 · Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in