Operation Christmas Child gives hurting children a gift

By Carrie A. Mizell

November is not too early to begin thinking about Christmas, especially when it means sharing God’s love with a needy child overseas through a simple shoebox filled with gifts.
Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization. A ministry project for over 20 years now, Operation Christmas Child has provided over 8 million shoeboxes to hurting children in 130 countries, who otherwise would not receive a Christmas gift.

Kay and Joe Roberts serve as relay center coordinators for this area and they will oversee Operation Christmas Child collection in Gilchrist County on November 14-21 at Bethel Baptist Church.
An Operation Christmas Child volunteer for over 10 years, Kay said each year has been an exciting adventure.
“There are so many wonderful stories of children who have been touched by the gifts they have received,” Kay said. “One story is of a child who opened his box to find a pair of socks rolled up. When he unrolled the socks he found $200, which was just the amount of money he needed to pay for a health problem he had that required a medical procedure. Ordinarily money is not put inside the shoe boxes, but I think the Lord must have touched the heart of the person giving the box. We know that God has already chosen the child who will receive each box that is sent out.”
Individuals are asked to gather age and gender appropriate items such as toys, personal hygiene products, school supplies, clothing items, candy and personal notes with pictures. From baseball caps and balls to yo-yo’s, and sunglasses and shampoo, there are many simple, inexpensive items that can be placed inside the Christmas gifts.
The Roberts have set a local goal of collecting over 500 boxes for Operation Christmas Child this year. Last year 300 boxes were collected in this area. According to Kay, nearly 16,000 shoeboxes were collected within the 10 county area of north Florida in 2010.
While trying to encourage the community to give to children in need this year, Kay said she called a number of local churches and posted flyers in businesses all over the county.
“I just want people to know that this is a project of Samaritan’s Purse,” Kay said. “It is non-denominational. This is not a ‘Baptist thing.”’
For more information on Operation Christmas Child, call Kay and Joe Roberts at 463-1404 or visit: www.operationchristmaschild.org
Volunteers will be collecting shoeboxes at Bethel Baptist Church November 14-21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.