It’s Operation Christmas Child Time
Small towns with huge hearts! Those words describe Trinity, Groveton, Riverside and surrounding communities. For several years area churches and individuals have participated in the largest Christmas project of its kind-Operation Christmas Child (OCC)- that occurs annually the week before Thanksgiving. OCC is a project of Samaritan’s Purse that collects shoebox gifts -filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys-and delivers them to children in need around the world.
Gift-filled Shoeboxes demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way and for many children, are their first gift ever. Locally, Dorcas Wills Memorial Baptist Church serves each year as one of 5000 Drop Off Locations located across the United States. Churches, families, school organizations, and community groups fill shoebox gifts and drop them off at the nearest Drop Off Location during National Collection Week, this year November 18-25. There they are graciously and gratefully received, packed into cartons and transported to one of 8 Processing Centers across the country. After processing, the gifts are delivered to children in over 100 countries.
Recently, Dorcas Wills church had the opportunity to host project leaders from three counties at an annual OCC Workshop and Rally. Our guest speaker was Kululu Atsaiya who grew up in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. As an 11 year old, he received his first gift ever- a shoebox filled with school supplies, hygiene items and small toys. He shared with the audience how the receipt of this gift brought hope to him and helped him know he could rise above his dire circumstances of hunger and poverty. With the gift of school supplies, he was able to return to school, leave the slums and eventually receive a college education.
Recently, Dorcas Wills church had the opportunity to host project leaders from three counties at an annual OCC Workshop and Rally. Our guest speaker was Kululu Atsaiya who grew up in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. As an 11 year old, he received his first gift ever- a shoebox filled with school supplies, hygiene items and small toys. He shared with the audience how the receipt of this gift brought hope to him and helped him know he could rise above his dire circumstances of hunger and poverty. With the gift of school supplies, he was able to return to school, leave the slums and eventually receive a college education.
OCC began in 1993 and since then, 168 million Shoebox gifts have been sent to children in need in more than 160 countries. Last year almost 3000 shoebox gifts were collected in the Trinty area by 27 different churches, school groups, and individuals. If you or your church or organization would like to be a part of bringing “Good News and Great Joy” to children in need across the globe, check out www.operationchristmaschild.org or contact Leigh Karnes, (leigh7roy@aol.com) Drop Off Location Project Leader, for more information. Be a part of something not only really big, but life changing for many shoebox gift recipients this Christmas season.
Submitted by Leigh Karnes * Operation Christmas Child * Drop Off Location Project Leader * Trinity, TX
