Making an investment of time now will bring joy to a needy child through Operation Christmas Child

“We started volunteering to be a part of Operation Christmas Child because we knew what an impact the shoe boxes were making around the world, and we wanted to help make a difference in the lives of struggling kids!” 

— Ed and Helen Hiestand, Area Coordinators for Operation Christmas Child

Showing a needy child they are loved and not forgotten can start with something as simple as a shoe box gift.

Right now, the South Central Ohio Area Team with Operation Christmas Child has an opportunity for residents to serve on the local team. The local area includes the following counties: Adams, Brown, Clinton, Fayette, and Highland.

Operation Christmas Child volunteers lead teams to encourage groups and churches to pack shoe boxes with toys, necessity items, school supplies and hand-written notes of encouragement.

The shoe box gifts will then be hand-delivered to children who are suffering because of natural disaster, disease, war, terrorism, famine and poverty. For many of these kids, these simple shoe boxes will be the first gifts they have ever received.

Although National Collection Week for shoe box gifts is Nov. 18-25, Operation Christmas Child is not limited to just the holidays.

It is a year-round project, requiring months of organization and preparation to reach millions of kids around the world.

Volunteers and shoe box gifts are needed during all seasons to spread the joy of Christmas and the spirit of giving that lasts all year long.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, has hand-delivered more than 100 million gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children in some 130 countries.

Volunteer opportunities

SERVE ON A LOCAL AREA TEAM YEAR ROUND – Visit www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Volunteer/ to complete a short application to begin the process.

PACK A SHOE BOX GIFT – Fill shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items and a letter of encouragement. Step-by-step shoe box packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org.

HOST A PACKING PARTY – Lead a group from church, a business, a civic organization or the neighborhood in packing shoe boxes. It is a great opportunity fellowship and be a part of making an impact in the life of a child.

COLLECTION SITES – Operation Christmas Child will be collecting gift-filled shoe boxes at seven drop-off sites in the five-county area. Drop-off locations are being added frequently; visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ for more information.

SPREAD THE WORD – Join the local team to enlist families, churches, 4-H clubs, scout troops, community groups and businesses to take part in creating shoe box gifts.

For more information, call Ed and Helen Hiestand at (937) 393-2790 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.