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Operation Christmas Child Approaches Collection Week

By Erika Ivey

Nov. 9, 2012. Millions of children around the world are unable to attend school due to the lack of basic school supplies. Pencils, paper, crayons, etc. are all things that seem very common in a child’s backpack, however some children need help getting these supplies. Operation Christmas Child offers the opportunity for people to help supply these items.

Operation Christmas Child is a project that belongs to the international Christian relief organization, Samaritan’s Purse. The project involves the stuffing of shoeboxes with helpful items for children in developing nations. Things such as toys, school supplies and personal use items are very useful for the recipients of the boxes.

Over nine million children are expected to receive help from the boxes of Operation Christmas Child this year. Since the project was launched in 1993, there have been over 100 million children who have received shoeboxes from the project. From western South America to eastern Africa, there are several countries that receive a visit from Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child.

As victims of disease, war, terrorism, famine and poverty, the children who receive these boxes gain a lot of materials that they would not otherwise be able to access. Operation Christmas Child provides boxes to people who would like to participate in the project. They also provide information on what may be good to put in a box for each gender and age group.

National Collection Week (Nov. 12-19)- The time has come to start turning in packed boxes to give to Operation Christmas Child. The shoebox packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC. Participants of the project will also get the opportunity to track and follow the box that they have packed. Drop off locations are also available on the website.

For people who are willing to volunteer for this project, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC.