Churches fill shoeboxes

By Sam Waller

Congregations from Albany’s First Christian Church, First Baptist Church, and First United Methodist Church are participating in the Samaritan’s Purse annual Operation Christmas Child.

Members are asked to fill shoeboxes, which are available at each church, with Christmas gifts for  underprivileged children.

“It’s a fun thing to do with your kids or grandkids,” said First Christian pastor Brad McBee, who coordinates the effort locally.

McBee added that the project is not limited to church members.

“I have a number of shoeboxes available if anybody in the community wants them,” he said. “There are also informational flyers that go with them to tell you how to pack them.”

The boxes will be collected next week.

“Collection week is always the third week of November,” he said. “I ask my folks to have all their boxes in by Nov. 14.”

Abilene is the nearest drop-off location for Samaritan’s Purse, and McBee will deliver locally collected shoeboxes to First Baptist Church in Abilene by the Nov. 22 deadline.

Last year, Samaritan’s Purse sent more than 10 million of the boxes to children in 100+ countries.

“They go into all corners of the world in all kinds of different modes,” McBee said. “Sometimes it’s by mule or by canoes down a river – whatever it takes.”

The shoebox gifts are filled with fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items to share God’s love with millions of boys and girls around the world through the Samaritan’s Purse project. Donors are also asked to contribute $9 per box to cover the costs of shipping.

McBee said items such as toothbrushes, fingernail files, and nail clippers, are especially appreciated.

Because the boxes are distributed around the world, there are items that should not be included, and participants should avoid packing things that are not allowed through customs and/or may not be appropriate for some children.

“No military, war-type toys are allowwed,” McBee said. “You can’t put hard candy anymore. You can’t put toothpaste anymore.”

McBee said the impact of the mission extends far beyond shoebox recipients.

“The have a follow-up program where every child who receives a shoebox also takes part in a gospel lesson,” he said. “One shoebox usually impacts like seven folks. It’s a lot larger than the number of shoeboxes out there.”

For information on packing a shoebox, go to samaritanspurse.org.