Bitterroot Valley, North Fork and Salmon, Idaho residents were extremely generous in helping children overseas this Christmas season. From this area, volunteers were able to collect 3,718 of the total Missoula area collection of 8,854 shoeboxes—filled with a “Wow!” item, like a doll or soccer ball, and other fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items—for Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind. For many of the children, the shoeboxes will be the first gifts they have ever received.
Every shoebox gift counts, whether it’s one shoebox from one person to a church of thirty people packing over 700 shoeboxes. As a sweet eight-year-old girl said, it’s a way to show the love of Jesus to children around the world and help change their lives.
Although the local drop-off locations are closed until November 2016, shoebox gifts can be packed any time. Operation Christmas Child is a project of the international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, and gifts are received year-round at its North Carolina headquarters (801 Bamboo Road, Boone, NC 28607).
With a computer or mobile device, anyone can conveniently pack a personalized Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift on the Samaritan’s Purse website year-round. Go to samaritanspurse.org/occ to select toys and gift items, write a note of encouragement and “pack” them in a shoebox. After the shoebox is packed and sent by the Operation Christmas Child team, participants can discover where in the world their gifts will be delivered.
To learn about year-round volunteer opportunities or to serve with Operation Christmas Child visit samaritanspurse.org/occ or call Greg Reinhardt at 360-4253.
“Thank you again to everyone who participated in this project and for those who participate year after year,” said Reinhardt. “These simple gifts, packed with love, communicate hope and continue to transform the lives of children worldwide.”
