OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Another school year is getting underway, and shoebox packers are making use of back-to-school prices to purchase gifts and essential items for children in need worldwide. Ocala residents are putting together school supplies along with personal care items to pack in shoeboxes as part of Operation Christmas Child, an undertaking of Samaritan’s Purse. The organization delivers these gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 100 countries.
Access to simple items such as these is not always simple for many children and are essential to their education. Samaritan’s Purse tells us about Justin Thomas, a shoebox recipient in Southeast Asia whose parents could not afford the supplies he needed for school. Justin received a gift-filled shoebox from Operation Christmas Child and it was filled with toys and school supplies.
Justin grew up with hand-me-down clothing and used items, and he used to write with a pencil so short that he needed a pen cap to make it long enough to hold. Now, Justin has an entire packet of new pencils and a pencil sharpener of his own, something he says he treasures. This simple gift was life-changing for Justin because receiving an education was made easier for him.
National Collection Weeks is November 13-20. You can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and you’ll receive a tracking label to follow where it ends up.
Samaritan’s Purse also offers the option of shopping online for your convenience. Just go to SamaritansPurse.org/BuildOnline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish pack a virtual shoebox by adding a photo and a personal note of encouragement from you.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered over 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories, now celebrating 30 years of ministry.
For more information on how you can help, visit SamaritansPurse.org/occ