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"It's always interesting to wonder who's going to receive your box, and what they'll be like," says TPS student Bonnie Cofer (BonnieC), whose family participates in Operation Christmas Child (OCC). Samaritan's Purse uses this ministry to bring thousands of present-filled shoeboxes each year to children in poor countries.

Churches and organizations around the country who participate in OCC begin gathering items for shoeboxes in late fall. These items are then sorted, packed, and dropped off at OCC distribution centers around the country. After being checked, sorted, and safely packaged, the boxes are sent oversees to the children who need them. 

TPS student Lizzie Spotts (LizzieS) and her Sunday school class of three ran their church's OCC drive this year. Since their church decided to participate last-minute, the class had a mere two weeks to collect the items and to pack and drop off the boxes. Lizzie's friends and the church elders did a lot of promoting. "[The need for items] was announced every Sunday first thing in the service," Lizzie explains, "and there was a lot of talking about it going on between families." A big cardboard box for donations was placed in the church hallway.

In two weeks they had enough items for nine boxes. "It came out perfectly . . . God was watching it," Lizzie says. "I was totally blown away by the awesome response. The year before this, we'd done five [boxes] with a month's planning, so I was really amazed at how people had contributed."

TPS student Elizabeth Cuneo (ElizabethC3) chose to pack a box for a 10- to 14-year-old girl this year "because that was the closest category to my age (15), and because I don’t think there are as many boxes for girls this age as [for] the little kids, because people tend to want to help younger, smaller children." She filled her box with hair items, a pencil, pen, notebook, lip-gloss, candy, socks, soap, and a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Elizabeth says that as she packs her box she thinks about "the children that will be getting the boxes and how happy they’ll be when they get them . . . It’s great [to] help out in this way and possibly change a child’s life."

Sometimes people even include a picture of themselves or a personal letter in the boxes. Bonnie explains, "In past years I've included an address with [my] letter, because Samaritan's Purse says that if you do so, you may hear back from the person who received your box. I've never actually gotten anything back, but it's still a neat thing to do."

One of Elizabeth's friends was more successful. "She gave [her] little girl some pajamas," Elizabeth explains, "and she got a letter back from the girl, who lived in an orphanage, with a picture of her wearing the pajamas!"

Bonnie says her family tries to find out to which country their boxes will be sent, and "if we're able to do that, we usually do a little research on those countries, and pray for the people there.  Actually, we think we spotted a box my sister packed in an Operation Christmas Child brochure!"

When all is packed, the boxes are dropped off at the distribution centers. Elizabeth's distribution center was "just a big truck and a tent with a bunch [of] boxes under it."

Bonnie's, on the other hand, was a huge warehouse. By the time her family got there, Bonnie says, "most of the boxes . . . had been sealed, then placed with other boxes from the same age group, . . . packed into pallets, and then wrapped in plastic. There was an unbelievable number of boxes . . . I was amazed at how many boxes had been collected. There were several conveyor belts in the middle of the warehouse where workers were checking contents of the boxes. There were a lot of volunteers; some of whom were packing, and some who were checking the contents of the boxes. One of the people working there told us that sometimes they have to even out some of the boxes. For example, one box might contain too many toys, and another too many practical items."

But the ministry doesn't just benefit those who receive the boxes. It also brings smiles to the faces of those who prepare them.

"Christmas is a time of giving and for me it is so rewarding to give these children gifts," says Elizabeth. "They have nothing, and you make their day by giving them the boxes."

Samaritan's Purse has been in operation for over 35 years, giving aid, encouragement, and the gospel message to victims of natural disasters, wars, and poverty. Even though OCC is mostly done collecting boxes this year, they are still in need of donations to cover the cost of distributing the boxes (approximately $5 per box).

"I'd really encourage anyone who has the opportunity to get involved in this ministry," Bonnie says. "These gifts are a wonderful way for us to help tell others about the greatest gift of all - Jesus Christ"

For more information, see Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child website.

 

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