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VOL. 77 • NO. 50
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015
Area residents join Operation Christmas Child sending Christmas joy to children worldwide STATELINE — Nearly 160,000 children will soon experience the joy of Christmas, thanks to area Illinois communities. Residents of 13 area communities packed nearly 1200 empty shoeboxes with small items like toys, school supplies and hygiene items for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse that sends gifts to children living in difficult situations around the world. For those who missed National Collection Week, you can still get involved. Through the Samaritan’s Purse website, you can virtually “pack” a shoebox, allowing anyone with a computer or mobile device to provide a tangible gift to a child a world away. At samaritanspurse.org/buildonline, visitors can select a child’s age and gender, shop through an online selection of culturally relevant gifts, and finish by uploading a photo and writing a note of encouragement to the child who will receive it. After the shoeboxes are packed and sent by the Operation Christmas Child team, participants can discover where in the world their gifts will be delivered. It is a convenient yet meaningful way to join in a project that brings hope to children in need. The virtual-packing tool also offers participants the option to challenge friends to participate or the opportunity to share the gift of giving through a shoebox gift card. Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief
and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered giftfilled shoeboxes to more than 124 million children in more than 150 countries and territories. In 2015, Operation Christmas Child hopes to deliver gifts to another 11 million children. Year-round effort transforms shoeboxes into special gifts for millions of children in need Reaching more than 11 million children with Christmas joy takes a massive, year-round effort. That’s why, whether it’s August or December, generous volunteers across the United States are partnering with the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind. Through the Samaritan’s Purse project, Operation Christmas Child, kids, families, churches and groups create gifts by filling shoeboxTony Carton photo es with a “wow” item—like a Dozens of volunteers from 13 area communities worked year-round to collect nearly 2,000 doll or soccer ball—and other shoe boxes filled with toys and personal hygiene items for children across the world as part fun toys, school supplies and of a project spearheaded by the Samaritan’s Purse International Relief organization. hygiene items. These gifts can org/operation-christmas-child/ Operation Christmas Child is samaritanspurse.org/operationmake a significant difference in buildonline/ to virtually pack a project of Samaritan’s Purse, christmas-child/follow-yourthe lives of children in need a shoebox through an online an international Christian relief box/. worldwide. tool. The shoebox gift may be and evangelism organization Everyone associated with “At any given time, there the first gift a child has ever headed by Franklin Graham. Samaritan’s Purse is grateful for are more than 8,500 volunteers received. For more information on how to the works performed in partacross the United States makSign up to volunteer — Vol- participate in Operation Christ- nership with Operation Christing important progress in our unteer opportunities are avail- mas Child, visit http://www. mas Child. Through shoebox effort to collect as many gift- able! For more information, samaritanspurse.org/what-we- gifts, God is doing more than filled shoeboxes as possible,” visit http://www.samaritans- do/operation-christmas-child. just blessing boys and girls in said Randy Riddle, Operation purse.org/operation-christmasUsing special tracking tech- need. He is transforming famiChristmas Child Director in the child/volunteer-with-occ/. nology, participants can follow lies, inspiring pastors, plantUnited States. “Each shoebox Spread the word — Enlist their box online to discover ing churches and encouraging gift represents one more child individuals, families, and where in the world their gift is children to share the Gospel of who will learn he or she is loved groups to take part in creating delivered by using the dona- Jesus Christ with their friends. and not forgotten.” tion form found at http://www. May the Lord bless you all. shoebox gifts. How U.S. Residents Can Join the Effort Pack a shoebox gift — Fill shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement or visit Free Estimates https://www.samaritanspurse.
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