Operation Christmas Child Kicks Off 25th Year

The Glasgow Evangelical Church, 152 Aberdeen St. Glasgow, is once again serving as a collection site for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. The church will be open for collecting on Monday, Nov. 12, through Monday, Nov. 19. Hours for drop-off will be 10 a.m. to noon everyday except for Saturday, Nov. 17, 6 to 8 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 18, noon to 4 p.m. After Nov. 19, all shoeboxes collected will be picked up and will travel to distribution centers where the boxes will then be prepped for shipping overseas.

Anyone can participate in Operation Christmas Child and put together a box for a child. To make it easy, there is currently a display at Shopko where a shoebox size box and brochure can be picked up. Anyone interested in donating can start by determining if they are filling the box for a boy or a girl as well as the age range: two to five years, five to nine years or ten to 14 years. The box is then filled with a "Wow" toy, such as a doll, soccer ball or stuffed animal, other fun toys, hygiene items and school supplies. Things not to include in the box are toothpaste, candy, breakables and war items. Organizers also ask to include a personal note and photo for the child receiving the gift, and enclose a $9 donation to cover shipping and other project costs. Once the box is filled and ready to go, take the box, with the gender and age group the box was packed for marked in the brochure, to the Evangelical Church or the nearest drop-off location during National Collection Week, Nov. 12 through the 19.

For those who want to put together a box and ship it from the comfort of their home, a box can be built and paid for online at http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/. "We are hoping to go over 500 boxes this year. Every little bit helps," said Area Relations Coordinator Denae Kauffman, continuing, "We always strive to keep the integrity of the box and for the child it was packed for. We won't redistribute items from boxes or move items from box to box."

When dropping off boxes at the Evangelical Church, the boxes will be distributed where they are needed. If you would like to know the exact country your box will be going to, you can purchase a shipping label online, instead of dropping the box off at the collection site. Around mid-December when the boxes have been processed, the barcode number provided can be looked up and information will be provided on where the box was delivered to.

Since 1993, Samaritan's Purse has partnered with local churches around the world to deliver 157 million Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to children in need in 160 countries. According to Kauffman, Glasgow and the surrounding area have participated as a drop-off location since 2004, first starting at the Assembly of God Church and then moving to the Evangelical Church last year. "Even though Glasgow has had a drop-off center since 2004, many individuals have been participating in the program for years," said Kauffman.

"Establishing a drop-off center in Glasgow has really helped get more people involved, which in turn has helped make the program grow and more children receive gifts," said Kauffman. The shoeboxes tell the children receiving them that someone loves them and there is hope. "I was in India one year after the boxes were distributed to the community. I was so touched to see the reaction on the children's faces when openings the boxes. The items in the box not only affected them, but their family and community as well," said Kauffman.

"It never ceases to amaze me how something so simple can make such a huge impact," said Kauffman, continuing, "There have been so many connections made between those who give boxes and those who receive them. There has even been a wedding between a gift giver and a gift receiver from this program."

If you are interested in volunteering beyond giving a box, Kauffman is also looking for volunteers to help pack up the shoeboxes into crates and to even volunteer with the program year round. She is also willing to talk to groups who want to learn more about the program and how to get involved. She can be contacted at 406-228-8654.

To learn more about the program, visit Operation Christmas Child's Facebook page to see updates http://www.facebook.com/OCCshoeboxes/, download the Operation Christmas Child app at any App Store or visit their website http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/.