“Operation Christmas Child” is a way to provide gifts for the upcoming holiday season to young people in need around the world. [1,2]
Coordinated through local organizations such as First United Methodist Church (FUMC) here in Saline, intended recipients include boys and girls in three age brackets: 2-4, 5-9, and 10-14 years old. In addition to making logistics simple and efficient, detailed suggestions for gifts — and a Do Not Include advisory are available online. [3,4,5]
The overall program is part of Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham. In 1993, Operation Christmas Child got its start by distributing 28,000 shoeboxes internationally. [6,7]
Ironically, FUMC Pastor Tom Zimmerman lamented during church services yesterday the appearance of “Christmas decorations everywhere” now, with Halloween almost a month away and Thanksgiving meal plans not yet a consideration. Notwithstanding, he made his appeal with aplomb. Fold-out shoeboxes were ready that day just outside the sanctuary. Barely a month later, on Sunday November 11, those shoeboxes, packed, will be due back. [8]
For those with a bit more time and energy to contribute, a church-wide “packing party” is on the calendar, too: Set for Friday, November 9, starting at 6:30pm.
This year marks the thirty-fifth for Operation Christmas Child. In 2017, over 156 million shoeboxes were put into the hands of truly surprised and deeply grateful youth. The goal for 2018, not surprisingly, is to extend that reach even further.
References
- “Operation Christmas Child” Samaritan’s Purse.
- “25 Years of Operation Christmas Child” (2018) Samaritan’s Purse.
- FUMC Saline (home page).
- “How to Pack a Shoebox” Samaritan’s Purse.
- “What Goes in My Shoebox?” Samaritan’s Purse.
- Samaritan’s Purse (home page).
- “Franklin Graham” Billy Graham Evangelic Association.
- “Our Staff” FUMC Saline.
