Operation Christmas Child Sends Boxes of Gifts Around the World

With an average size of about 15 inches long and 7 inches wide, not many things can fit inside an everyday shoebox. When one of the thousands of boxes collected during the Operation Christmas Child donation drive is opened by a poor child on the other side of the world, that ordinary box will seem to contain an endless amount of caring and generosity.

"These are going to impoverished countries where children have never received presents before," said Nicole Hess. "They have toys, games, toiletries, school supplies, anything that will fit in the box."

Hess is the parent organizer of the collection effort led by the Nativity of Our Lord student council in Warminster. The entire school worked for weeks gathering items for donation, ultimately bringing a shipment of 584 boxes to the Covenant Presbyterian Church on County Line Road in Hatboro. A handful of students arrived with five SUV's filled with the shoeboxes and helped get the donations packed and prepared for delivery.

"A friend of mine did it last year, and it was such an easy way to get involved and to give back," said Hess.

This year, Greater Philadelphia residents hope to contribute more than 30,000 gifts to the global collection goal of 9.8 million gift-filled shoeboxes. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected more than 100 million shoebox gifts and delivered them to needy children.  

Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief and evangelism is organized by Samaritan’s Purse. Through simple gifts and a message of hope, children learn they are loved and not forgotten. For many of these children, the shoebox gift will be the first gift they have ever received. 

Covenant Presbyterian Church, 515 W. County Line Rd., Hatboro, is accepting donations through Monday. Hours: Fri. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 4 p.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Sun. 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.; Mon. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child call 410-772-7360 or visit samaritanspurse.org.