Volunteers from northeast Indiana collected more than 32,000 gift-filled shoeboxes to send to children around the world for Operation Christmas Child.
The shoeboxes were filled with school supplies, hygiene items and toys.
Collections have finished for the 2017 Christmas season, but it’s not too late to get involved.
Those who wish to help can contribute $25 to build a shoebox online for children affected by war, disease, disaster and famine. You can select gifts to match a child’s age and gender, then add a personal note of encouragement and photo to the virtual shoebox.
Visit samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to build a virtual shoebox.
Another way to give is to buy a $25 gift card for a family member to pack a shoebox online.
People also may donate $9 per shoebox gift through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking order to follow the gift to its destination.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. The group has collected and delivered more than 146 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories since 1993.
For more information on how to participate, or to see gift suggestions, call 937-374-0761 or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.
