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Operation Christmas Child underway |
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Written by Andrew Powell
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Friday, 23 October 2009 |
A local church is once again looking to their community to help spread Christmas joy to children around the world.
Parkers Lake – A local church is once again looking to their community to help spread Christmas joy to children around the world.
Walker’s Chapel Baptist Church is serving as a drop off point for Operation Christmas Child, a program that collects shoeboxes filled with gifts sent to impoverished children worldwide. This is the third year the church has participated in the program and is asking for other churches, schools and citizens throughout the county to join them.
“This is the one time of year that kids around the world, in areas affected by war or disease, can get joy from something so simple,” says Tim Braden, church member and program coordinator. “It is well worth the effort and the small cost involved.”
Braden says the program has grown in the past few years with community support. This year, he would like to see more from the community to come forward and help.
“Many people look for ways to give, to volunteer or reach out to others and there is no better cause than helping children,” he said.
Operation Christmas Child was established in 1993 and has since delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 69 million children in 100 countries across the globe. The shoeboxes are filled with small toys, coloring books, hygiene items, school supplies and candy; all simple tokens many children never know the experience of having.
Those participating in the program fill their own boxes, for either a boy or girl, provide $7 to help cover shipping and can deliver that box to Walker’s Chapel for deployment overseas. Braden said boxes could be filled and shipped for around $20, minor costs when considering the affect it will have on some deserving child. Some department stores in the area, have boxes packaged with items and ready for shipment in the program. This year, people can also donate to the program online and even track their shoeboxes to its final destination.
“Sometimes people question programs such as this, but everything here is legitimate or we wouldn’t be doing it,” Braden said. “The money you provide goes to nothing but making sure these boxes get sent to their intended destination. The whole program is volunteer driven and has only one purpose; getting gifts to the right place.”
Operation Christmas Child is a project managed by the international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse. To learn more about the program, visit www.samaritanspurse.org.
The website will also provide you with instructions on items to include in your shoebox, how to package the shoebox and how to prepare it for mailing. Shoeboxes can be filled with a variety of items, for both boys and girls of all ages, that can help young children look past the despair they face in their lives each day. Gifts should include school supplies, toys, hygiene items, candy, clothing, but should not include liquids or aerosols, food, medications or war-related items such as toy guns or knives.
All local shoeboxes can be delivered to Walker’s Chapel during the week of November 16-23. Church volunteers will work to get the package finalized for shipping and around the world in time for the Christmas season. Drop off times are 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Monday & Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays.
For more information on how you can help, please call Tim Braden at (606) 305-1779, Walker’s Chapel at 1-800-460-2856 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org.
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