Operation Christmas Child

A shoebox filled with several inexpensive items could be the only Christmas present received by a child in a remote part of the world.

That’s the premise behind Operation Christmas Child, a project of Christian ministry Samaritan’s Purse. Founded in 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered more than 146 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

This year, the charity hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach another 12 million children in countries like Peru, the Philippines, Rwanda and Ukraine. Nearly 11.5 million shoebox gifts were collected worldwide in 2016, with more than 9.1 million collected in the U.S.

Limestone Countians are invited to be a part of the giving spirit by filling shoeboxes and dropping them off at one of three locations — Friendship United Methodist Church (16479 Lucas Ferry Road, Athens) Clements Baptist Church (8690 U.S. 72 Athens) or Wooley Springs Baptist Church (28025 Bethel Road, Toney). Drop-off times can be found at www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child.

Shirley Brown, a member of Friendship United Methodist, is coordinating Operation Christmas Child efforts locally. She’s been filling boxes for the charity for years, but is excited because this is the first year Friendship has been a designated drop-off location.

“I’ve been involved in different types of ministries, but I’ve been overwhelmed by this particular ministry,” she said. “They put their money where their mouth is.”

National collection week for the shoeboxes is the week of Nov. 13-20. On Monday, Nov. 13, Friendship United Methodist Church will host a kickoff celebration beginning at 6 p.m. Individuals, organizations and businesses are invited to drop off their shoebox gifts at that time as the boxes are prepared for their journey around the world.

The party will include Christmas music, Christmas treats and the opportunity to make ornaments to accompany the boxes. Those who bring gifts will also learn more about where the boxes are going.

Brown said once all the boxes are collected, they are put at the church altar and prayed over before they are shipped out to the next drop-off location.

About the shoeboxes

Shoeboxes should generally be packed with school supplies, hygiene items and toys like soccer balls or dolls. Items the boxes should not include are candy, food, toothpaste, weapons, liquids, breakables or aerosol containers. Participants can donate $9 through the Operation Christmas Child website and find out where their box is going.

Brown said the great thing about the charity is it doesn’t matter how much or how little someone puts into a shoebox. She added the box with several items from Dollar Tree accomplishes the same as a box with more expensive items.

“I love the fact you can pack a box and trust God will get that box to the child who needs it,” she said. “We see story after story about kids who open their box and it was exactly what they wanted. It’s such a blessing to know it goes to someone who needs it.”

For more information, including tips on how to pack a shoebox, visit the Operation Christmas Child website. The charity can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.