February 5, 2024 |
Photo – Operation Christmas Child logo – Courtesy Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child spreads the word of God through donated gifts to children.
Southwest Regional Manager Irene Beatty said Operation Christmas Child is a Christian-based organization that collects and distributes shoeboxes to children across the world.
Since its inception in 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected over 220 million shoebox donations from 170 different countries. This past Christmas, 11.3 million shoeboxes were donated globally. In Wyoming, Operation Christmas Child collected 20,027 boxes, with 31 coming from Carbon County.
Beatty said her organization has a list of recommended donation items, but it’s up to the donor what they put in their shoebox.
Each November, the shoeboxes are collected at specific locations around the country. The boxes are then sent to participating ministries across the world. Beatty said Operation Christmas Child partners preach the gospel while distributing the donated items.
Beatty said Operation Christmas Child’s goal is to reach children in some of the most difficult areas of the world. She said the shoeboxes are designed to represent the love of God.
Beatty said every shoebox is significant because every child is valuable. The shoebox gifts reach the hearts not only of the child, but also of their family and friends, changing communities and generations.
To learn more about Operation Christmas Child, visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.
