Operation Christmas Child in full swing
Kylie Saari — Staff WriterFAIRMONT - Before many people finalize their Thanksgiving menu, others are busy buying, wrapping and delivering Christmas wishes to be sent around the world.
"Operation Christmas Child" is in full swing this week, as churches and charities prepare shoeboxes filled with small gifts to be given to underprivileged children in developing nations.
Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, started the project in 1993 through his ministry organization Samaritan's Purse. Sixty-one million shoeboxes have been distributed.
This year, the project hopes to collect 8 million boxes nationally.
"What I love about it," said Laurie Johnson, coordinator of the project at Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Fairmont, "is that it is a simple, tangible way to show God's love."
Johnson has coordinated Operation Christmas Child effort at Bethel for several years. Each year, she has helped her children participate. Her kids shop for, pack, and pray for the boxes and the children who will receive them.
"My kids look forward to it," Johnson said, "and it has opened up the idea that the world is a really big place."
Several local churches participate in Operation Christmas Child, encouraging congregants to bring in filled shoeboxes, which are then sent on to a regional relay center.
Trimont United Methodist Church has been selected by Samaritan's Purse to be a relay center this year.
"The boxes go to over 100 countries," said Melissa Tumbleson, the Operation Christmas Child coordinator at Trimont United Methodist Church. "They go in all kinds of ways - camel back, boat, airplane - it is amazing."
Nov. 17-23 is national collection week, and Tumbleson said a group of volunteers is ready to assist people dropping off gifts.
"Volunteers will be working, be there to greet people and help people unload boxes," Tumbleson said. "If someone wants to bring a financial donation to help with shipping they can bring that as well."
Tumbleson stressed that everyone is welcome to drop off a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child, regardless of church affiliation.
After national collection week, the boxes are taken to the collection center in Worthington, then sent to the distribution center in the Twin Cities.
Samaritan's Purse recommends filling the boxes with small, non-battery operated toys, hygiene items, hard candy and other miscellaneous items that will not melt, as well as a personal note about the sender. Items not to include are used items, war-themed toys, chocolate or food, liquids and lotions, or breakable items, such as snow globes.
Operation Christmas Child requests that boxes be marked with the age group the toys are for - 2-4 years, 5-9 years or 10-14 years old, and whether the items are for a boy or a girl.
The boxes are opened before they reach their final destination and anything that will not make the journey is removed. Reading material is added to the box at the child's reading level, in his or her language.
"They put literature in the box that tells them about Jesus in their language," said Johnson. "One of the things I love about the boxes is that beside getting gifts, they are learning about Jesus, who is the greatest gift of all."
If you would like to drop off a filled shoebox, bring them to Trimont United Methodist Church, located at 111 Apple St. East in Trimont. Shoeboxes also are accepted by mail at Samaritan's Purse/Operation Christmas Child, 801 Bamboo Road, Boone, NC 28607.
