Christmas Jubilation through shoeboxes

In a worldwide effort to make the year’s Christmas special for those in inhospitable circumstances, many US states have embarked upon giving their contribution towards the cause by an ingenious yet very considerable way of preparing boxes filled with gifts, toys, scholastic utilities and various other items contributed by the citizens.

Morehead City joined this movement as cartons of gift–filled shoeboxes line the walls at the Operation Christmas Child collection center at Glad Tidings Church .

There are signs bearing the names of places around the world on the boxes – Indonesia, Colombia, Israel, Africa to name a few.

"All the signs represent the countries that will get shoeboxes; somewhere around 90 to 100 countries," explained 14–year–old Kayla Underwood as she helped with the collection effort.

On Monday, all the shoeboxes dropped off at the Morehead City collection site will be packed in a truck and transported to the Operation Christmas Child processing center in Charlotte. From there they will be shipped to underprivileged children around the world.

Half way through collection week an astounding number of 2,000 gift boxes had been brought to Glad Tidings from a seven–county area. On the first day alone, 723 shoeboxes had been received.

Knowing her shoeboxes will be among those given to a child less fortunate than herself is the reason Underwood supports Operation Christmas Child.
She packed 22 shoeboxes last year. And though she wasn't able to do as many this year, it's a project she is dedicated to. Her enthusiasm is obvious. "It's such a ministry that I love because it involves children and is helping other people," she said.

When shopping each year for gifts to go in her boxes, she follows the suggested list: small toys, hygiene products, hard candy and school supplies. The school supplies in particular are an item she never leaves out.
"The school supplies you can't stress enough," she said. In some countries, they can't go to school unless they bring their own supplies. When you give supplies, you give them an education."

Each shoebox is an opportunity to share the message of God, she said as she shared one of her favorite stories of a Romanian man who did not believe in the Bible and is now a church pastor because of the Christian message his son brought home with a shoebox he received.

Jessie Petersen also tells the one about a child who saw a shoebox full of socks as an answer to his prayers. The boy had severe burns on his legs and hadn't been able to play outside because he didn't have any covering for his feet and legs.

The story is one that she has heard through others. Now, she's looking forward to witnessing them first hand. Petersen, 16, has been selected to go to Belize in December to help distribute shoeboxes there. "I can't wait to see the kids' faces. To actually have a story of my own to see, that's powerful," she said.

Moving towards the Southeast, Florence, South Carolina is also keeping busy getting ready their set of shoe–boxes. Poynor Adult/ Community Education Center students joined the effort to prepare the shoeboxes for the Operation . Poynor teacher Janet Miller said she has participated in the project since it started in 1993 at the school. She said she feels it is a great way to donate gifts. "It's fun and easy, and 100 percent goes to the child," Miller said. "It's not like other charities, where you don't know where your money is going."

Miller said students filled at least 30 shoeboxes with items such as toys, school supplies, hygiene products and candy to be shipped to children between the ages of 2 and 14.

Miller said all of the boxes will be sent to the processing center in Charlotte, N.C., where volunteers will inspect the boxed gifts and then Samaritan's Purse will ship the shoeboxes to children in 90 countries suffering from war, terrorism, disease, natural disaster, famine and poverty.

Tiesha Williams, a student at Poynor, said she brought clothes and toys to fill the boxes. "I have always been blessed to get what I want, so I felt like I could help someone that was in need," she said. She further added that it means a lot to her to be able to put a smile on the face of someone she doesn't know.

Miller said the teachers and staff are sponsoring the boxes by providing the $5 shipping fee with each box.

Sue Eaddy, another student at Poynor, said she wanted to help and show her love for others. "These desperate children in need touched my heart," she said. "Filling and sending these shoeboxes gives me the opportunity to let these children know someone cares."

(Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. )