{"id":15228,"date":"2015-11-11T13:47:19","date_gmt":"2015-11-11T19:47:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.flovalleynews.com\/?p=15228"},"modified":"2015-11-11T13:47:19","modified_gmt":"2015-11-11T19:47:19","slug":"operation-christmas-child-shoebox-campaign-begins-in-florissant-next-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=15228","title":{"rendered":"Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Campaign Begins in Florissant Next Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shoeboxes Are Packed For Kids Around the World<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Florissant families, churches and groups are not waiting until Thanksgiving Day to express gratitude. Instead, they are giving back by lovingly packing gifts of joy for children around the world living in extreme poverty or affected by war, disease and natural disaster. For many of these children, it will be the first gift they have ever received.<\/p>\n

Nov. 16 \u2013 23, Florissant residents will pack shoebox gifts filled with a “Wow” item\u2014like a doll or soccer ball\u2014and other fun toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement. Operation Christmas Child, a project of the international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, will deliver the gifts to children in need overseas. Florissant area residents can visit samaritanspurse.org\/occ to find sites that will serve as collection points in the area.<\/p>\n

“We have so much to be thankful for here in America. Most of us have a roof over our heads, beds with pillows to sleep on, and food on our table. But for many children living\u00a0 overseas, tough living conditions and extreme poverty have left them with little hope,” said Operation Christmas Child Regional Director Joe Christian. “It is amazing to see the joy on children’s faces when they receive these gifts. It can be a tangible reminder that they are loved and not forgotten, despite their difficult circumstances.”<\/p>\n

After being dropped off at a local collection site, these boxes will make the long journey overseas, traveling by any means necessary\u2014boat, plane, train and even elephant\u2014until they reach the hands of children in need. In 2015, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach more than 11 million children. Since 1993, the project has delivered shoebox gifts to more than 124 million children in over 150 countries and territories.<\/p>\n

It’s not too late to get involved, and anyone can participate in this life-changing project for children around the world. Although next week is National Collection Week, shoebox gifts are collected year-round at the Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in Boone, North Carolina.<\/p>\n