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Fill a shoebox, make a child smile
BY AMBER ROKYTA
The smile of a child and the look of sheer joy are what await the workers of Samaritan’s Purse when they deliver the presents of Operation Christmas Child to needy and desperate children.
Operation Christmas Child is a program that began in the United States in 1993 and has since delivered more than 61 million boxes all around the world to over 80 countries.
A small simple gift is all that children may get, but to them, these gifts are the most wonderful thing in the whole world. For many, this will be the very first Christmas gift they ever receive. A shoebox filled with happiness, prayers and love is what is in store for these kids this Christmas.
The gifts are simple and easy. Simply fill an ordinary shoebox or plastic box with little trinkets and a prayer for a special little boy or girl. Teddy bears, crayons, little games and candy are wonderful ways to fill the boxes. The age groups for the boxes are 2-4, 5-9 and 10-14 years old.
“Every year the project grows in the variety of 30-plus different organizations that participate,” said coordinator, Ann McFarland.
Many area organizations, schools and churches participate by contributing toys, candy, personal hygiene materials, books and variety of other items. The collection day for these boxes is Friday, Nov. 21 by 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church.
The boxes are then transported to our area Wal-Mart where they are taken to San Antonio and then disbursed to the various national locations and on to the children of the world.
“There is a little girl whose prayers were answered and life was changed because of someone’s generous donation. Rose Marie was a young Peruvian girl whose one wish was to get a ‘real doll.’ Her family could not afford to get her one, and after the earthquake that hit San Clemente in August of 2007, it was going to be especially difficult for her family to purchase one. Although no one in her family was injured, they lost a lot. However, donations and supplies were given to the Samaritan’s Purse, and many shoeboxes were delivered to her community and amongst those things was a shoebox with a ‘real doll.’ The little girl was overjoyed.” (Taken from a brochure about Operation Christmas Child.)
To make a difference in someone’s life you may fill a box or give online. Go to www.samaritanspurse.org and click the easy “Give” donation button. For more information contact Ann McFarland at 552-5712 or email her at tmcfarland@cableone.net.
Operation Christmas Child is a program that began in the United States in 1993 and has since delivered more than 61 million boxes all around the world to over 80 countries.
A small simple gift is all that children may get, but to them, these gifts are the most wonderful thing in the whole world. For many, this will be the very first Christmas gift they ever receive. A shoebox filled with happiness, prayers and love is what is in store for these kids this Christmas.
The gifts are simple and easy. Simply fill an ordinary shoebox or plastic box with little trinkets and a prayer for a special little boy or girl. Teddy bears, crayons, little games and candy are wonderful ways to fill the boxes. The age groups for the boxes are 2-4, 5-9 and 10-14 years old.
“Every year the project grows in the variety of 30-plus different organizations that participate,” said coordinator, Ann McFarland.
Many area organizations, schools and churches participate by contributing toys, candy, personal hygiene materials, books and variety of other items. The collection day for these boxes is Friday, Nov. 21 by 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church.
The boxes are then transported to our area Wal-Mart where they are taken to San Antonio and then disbursed to the various national locations and on to the children of the world.
“There is a little girl whose prayers were answered and life was changed because of someone’s generous donation. Rose Marie was a young Peruvian girl whose one wish was to get a ‘real doll.’ Her family could not afford to get her one, and after the earthquake that hit San Clemente in August of 2007, it was going to be especially difficult for her family to purchase one. Although no one in her family was injured, they lost a lot. However, donations and supplies were given to the Samaritan’s Purse, and many shoeboxes were delivered to her community and amongst those things was a shoebox with a ‘real doll.’ The little girl was overjoyed.” (Taken from a brochure about Operation Christmas Child.)
To make a difference in someone’s life you may fill a box or give online. Go to www.samaritanspurse.org and click the easy “Give” donation button. For more information contact Ann McFarland at 552-5712 or email her at tmcfarland@cableone.net.
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