Belmont residents change lives globally with shoe boxes

A toothbrush. A pencil. A notebook and eraser. Soap. A yoyo. They're not the typical things we expect to see under our Christmas trees, but these are the very things that are making children all over the world scream with excitement. The residents of Belmont, California have been joining forces around the country to provide hope to these children by packing these simple necessities along with other toys for children who have never received a Christmas gift, let alone gift.

For over 10 years, the city of Belmont has been the home of the Bay Area's Operation Christmas Child Central Drop Off location and have collected more than 100,000 gift-filled shoe boxes that have been distributed to more than 130 countries all over the world. Last year, they collected 15,650 shoe boxes, and this year, they have a goal of 16,800 shoe boxes to be collected from both San Francisco and San Mateo Counties. Their shoe boxes have been distributed to the Philippines, Panama, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Peru, Nepal, and Ukraine, to name a few.

As more and more people participate in giving back to their community, they opened a second Drop Off location right off Highway 92: Calvary San Mateo at 3254 Lori Drive in Belmont where a team of joyful volunteers are eager to serve their city by collecting their shoe boxes, and offering them the opportunity to pack more as a community right inside the sanctuary.

"These aren't just shoe boxes. This is a symbol of hope for a child in the darkest corners of the world who feel alone or forgotten. We're letting them know that people in the San Francisco Bay Area know them, love them, and are praying for them," shared Angenette Lau, Area Coordinator for the Operation Christmas San Francisco/Peninsula team.

She shared that in some countries, children cannot attend school because they lack basic school supplies. Not having a pencil can result in rejection, but having an eraser means they might be able to reuse a notebook for one more year of school. Some children in orphanages have to share their toothbrush and bar of soap with 15 other children. Even with toys, some children have no other resources but garbage.

"We can reach thousands of children without boarding a plane. All it takes is a shoe box, some love and prayers, and you can change the course of one child's life and possibly their family's too," she continued.

Operation Christmas Child is collecting shoe boxes beginning November 12 - 19 at various locations. Learn more about Operation Christmas Child and find your nearest Drop Off location by visiting their site: https://www.samaritanspurse.or...