Gifts Ready for Operation Christmas Child

Wrapped boxes will be delivered to impoverished children around the world.

Local volunteers in the last two seeks assembled gift boxes containing fun and educational toys as well as necessities such as toothbrushes and soap—and correspondence from Oxford kids—for Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project. The program, created by the organization Samaritan’s Purse, “brings joy and hope to needy children around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love,” says its website. Since 1993, more than 100 million shoe box gifts have been delivered to children in more than 130 countries.

The box is usually the only Christmas gift each child receives. The goal for Oxford volunteers was to assemble contents and pack 4,000 boxes. Families participated, with young children pitching in to complete the packages and contribute written information about themselves for the recipient children. Each recipient is then encouraged to reply to tell the Oxford child about himself or herself.

Samaritan’s Purse is a non-denominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love.

For more information, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ, call (800) 353-5949, or email OCCinfo@samaritan.org.

— Tad Wilkes, tad.wilkes@hottytoddy.com