For some children, a year’s worth of happiness can come in just one small box.
For the 15th year, Bethlehem Community Church will be collecting shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. The project provides gifts for children in need living throughout the world’s poorest nations.
More than 9 million shoeboxes were collected by Christian ministries worldwide last year, with nearly 6.6 million coming from the United States. Locally, around 1,300 were donated from the Bethlehem drop-off site, with around 460 coming from the church’s congregants.
“For our church, our goal is usually 500 boxes,” said Tina Bonney, center coordinator for the project at Bethlehem Community Church. “But we are also a relay site, so everyone from the area can drop-off their boxes to us, too.”
Each year, local community organizations volunteer along with church members to pack shoeboxes with donated items, count the boxes and load them onto trucks to be sent to the nearest shipping center. The boxes are sent to children in 130 different countries affected by war, terrorism, poverty, disease and natural disasters.
The project was adopted in 1993 by Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational Christian organization founded by Franklin Graham. The organization provides international aid to those in need, while spreading the word of Christianity. The project was first started in 1990 by Dave Cooke in Wales, England.
The shoeboxes are designed to provide a little relief to children from the worries of their everyday lives.
Bonney said although many of the boxes contain small toys and candy, the organization also stresses that many of the children are also in need of hygiene products, educational tools and clothing. Items such as t-shirts, pencils and notes pads, books and mini bottles of shampoo are often added to the boxes.
The organization asks that no chocolate, food items, breakable items or war-related items like toy guns be sent.
Once it is brought to a drop-off site, the box is labeled as appropriate for a specific gender and age range. The boxes are then sent to one of seven warehouses to be sorted, inspected and taped for shipping.
Each box costs $7 to ship internationally. Bonney — who also coordinates the project in Bethlehem with her teenage daughter, Juila — said those who donated boxes can include the funds to ship the box if they wish. The church also does fundraisers throughout the year in order to ship the boxes. The money should be placed in an envelope and attached to the top of each box.
“These boxes could be one of the few gifts these children receive throughout their lives,” said Bonney. “We put these boxes together out of love.”
Some who donate boxes also include a letter to the recipients in order to build a more lasting connection. They are encouraged to include their contact information and a picture of themselves in the box, in case the children wish to thank the donors. The boxes can also be registered online so senders can electronically follow the shipment of their packages.
Since the project’s mission is also about spreading the gospel, a small pamphlet is included in each box to help the children learn about God and the story of Jesus Christ.
In the past, members of Bethlehem Community Church have been given the opportunity to travel as a part of Operation Christmas Child to distribute the boxes. Terry Pilon was able to travel to Uganda last May and meet with children as they opened their gifts.
“Those who have gone said it was a life-changing experience,” said Bonney.
Bethlehem Community Church is seeking both volunteers and donations this year.
Those wishing to donate boxes can do so at the church’s Elm Avenue location in Delmar. Operating hours will be Monday, Nov. 18, through Friday, Nov. 22, from 6 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 23, and Sunday Nov. 24, from noon to 2 p.m.; and Monday, Nov. 25, from 10 a.m. to noon.
To learn more, visit the Operation Christmas Child website.
