Each year shoe boxes packed with gifts are delivered to children around the world through Operation Christmas Child. The shoe box ministry, a project of the nondenominational relief and evangelism organization Samaritan's Purse, which is led by Franklin Graham, has reached more than 113 million children since 1993.
Arkansas churches, community groups, schools and individuals contribute tens of thousands of boxes to the effort each year. A workshop sponsored by Operation Christmas Child for shoe box group organizers is being held today at FamilyLife, 5800 Ranch Drive, Little Rock. Check-in is at 9:30 a.m. and the workshop begins at 10. It's open to community members who serve as their church, school or community group's shoe box ministry coordinator.
Stephanie Olsen, midsouth regional manager of Operation Christmas Child, said participants will learn about ideas for packing boxes, hear about resources to help in their efforts and see how the shoe boxes find their way from Arkansas into the hands of children in need in more than 100 countries around the world.
On Sunday, Irina Creek, who received a shoe box as an 11-year-old orphan in Russia, will share her story during morning worship services at Fellowship Bible Church at 1051 Hogan Lane in Conway. Services are at 9 and 10:45 a.m.
Creek will also speak at 6 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church of Mayflower, 4 Arkansas 89 North. Samaritan's Purse set up a disaster relief site at the church after a tornado tore through the area April 27 and Olsen said they wanted to return to the community to share Creek's message of hope and healing.
"We wanted to reach out to that community," Olsen said. "Irina's story is really inspiring and hope-filled and we want to love on them and help them heal from their wounds."
Creek, now an adult, said she grew up in harsh conditions in a Russian orphanage and often felt unloved and forgotten. In a video on the Samaritan's Purse website, she tells how receiving the shoe box of gifts from Operation Christmas Child made her feel special and gave her hope.
"In the box I found a beautiful hair clip and it meant so much to me because I had long hair. I keep it to this day," she said. "More importantly I learned from the missionaries that there is a God and that he wanted to adopt me. That is every orphan's dream."
Participating in the outreach is simple. Cardboard or plastic shoe boxes can be filled for boys or girls in three age categories -- 2-4, 5-9 and 10-14. Suggestions for gifts include toys such as dolls, stuffed animals, jump ropes and balls; school supplies; hygiene items like toothbrushes and soap; clothing items such as T-shirts, hats, sunglasses, hair clips such as the one Creek cherished; and a personal note and photo for the child. Olsen encourages those packing boxes to make them personal and to pray for the child who will receive the gifts. A $7 fee helps pay for shipping and other costs associated with distribution.
Olsen said volunteers pack shoe boxes all year long, but the big push is in November during National Collection Week. This year that is Nov. 17-24, and boxes from across the country will be collected at more than 3,500 drop-off sites located in each state and in Puerto Rico.
There's even an online option for "packing" a shoe box. By going online to samaritanspurse.org and clicking on Operation Christmas Child, an individual can select items for a box, write a note and even attach a photo. The box will then be filled at headquarters in Boone, N.C. Donors can even find out which country their shoe box is shipped to by following along online.
"It works on an iPad, mobile phone, any type of computer," Olsen said. "It's a mobile option for people on the go."
Olsen said participation in Operation Christmas Child has increased dramatically in the past few years.
"We really feel a sense of urgency at Operation Christmas Child. It's no secret the world has many troubles and we feel the urgency to reach children living in hardship around the world," Olsen said. "Our organization is really driven to reach every child that we can and that list grows every day."
By working with churches around the world the organization is able to reach children in need with the shoe boxes.
"So many times when disaster strikes, or there's war, poverty, famine ... it's always the children who are overlooked," Olsen said, adding that the shoe boxes are a simple way to give hope and joy to those children.
The ultimate goal is to also get the child and his family involved in a local church where he can receive more help and encouragement.
"We know that if we can integrate a child and their family into a local church, many times they can be educated, helped out of poverty and that church can really love on that family," Olsen said. "That's our goal."
Religion on 08/09/2014