Comments (0) | |

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009

Operation Christmas Child aims to collect 45,000 shoe boxes

Last year, the Middle Georgia area donated more than 42,000 shoe boxes to Operation Christmas Child. This year, organizers have set the bar at 45,000.

Operation Christmas Child sends shoe boxes filled with toys, school supplies, personal hygiene items and other supplies to needy children in the United States as well as 100 other countries. Last year, more than eight million shoeboxes were distributed.

There are five donation centers in this area, said Jessica Smith of Samaritan’s Purse in Atlanta. They are: Crosspoint Baptist Church, Byron United Methodist Church, Second Baptist Church, Ingleside Baptist Church and Irwinton Baptist Church. Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse.

The dates for dropping off the boxes are Monday through Nov. 23.

Although churches handle the project, it is non-denominational, said Gary Miner, the area community relations volunteer from Crosspoint Baptist Church.

Miner heard about Operation Christmas Child five years ago when he attended the Georgia National Fair.

He said that someone was handing out brochures. Now he is the one doing it.

“I handed out about 2,000 brochures this year,” Miner said.

Miner’s passion for the program extends beyond handing out pamphlets.

He also goes to groups to speak about Operation Christmas Child and drives to Atlanta to help in the warehouse where the boxes are sorted.

“To see over 500,000 boxes is indescribable,” Miner said.

The Atlanta center houses the half million shoeboxes in a warehouse and stacks them 5 to 6 feet high, sorted by age and gender.

Jeremy Morton, pastor at Crosspoint Baptist Church, said he encourages families to make one box.

“Christmas is about giving,” Morton said. “The Sunday when we collect the boxes, we stack them really high and pray over the boxes.”

Morton said the message is really about giving. He hears stories from parents saying their children want to give up their allowances to Operation Christmas Child.

“The pinnacle is teaching about giving,” said Morton. “It’s just a good thing.”

To contact writer Angela Woolen, call 923-5650.