BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Operation Christmas Child continues to brighten the lives of children around the globe by collecting shoeboxes filled with small gifts and supplies and getting them into the hands that need them. For the first time ever, a collection location is set up in Martin County.
Collection time runs through Nov. 21 at the Inez First Baptist Church on Main Street, where deacon Jimmy Horn, his wife Mary Lynn Horn and fellow church members have been involved with the shoebox project for many years.
“The project is about sharing the love of Christ with children from around the world through a shoebox filled with blessings,” Horn said, noting that he was pleased when organizers asked if the church would consider being a collection location for shoebox donations this Christmas.
“These boxes are often the first Christmas gift some children have ever received,” remarked Horn. “Even if they have been told about Christmas and its meaning, they live in extremely poor conditions where necessities are not often available, let alone the luxury of a gift. Receiving a shoebox filled with small gifts, toys and/or hygiene products is something they will remember for a lifetime.”
Samaritan’s Purse is the parent organization of Operation Christmas Child with the goal of delivering gifts to children worldwide to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way.
Operation Christmas Child is the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, having collected and delivered more than 198 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 170 countries and territories. This year, the project expects to surpass 200 million shoeboxes, meeting a goal set by organizers and volunteers several years ago.
Anyone can pack a shoebox, including individuals, families, churches and groups. Fill the boxes with items and then mark them as being for a specific age group (2-4, 5-9 and 10-14) and denote if they are for a girl or boy.
“Bring the boxes to our church no later than Nov. 21, and we will take them from there,” said Horn. “We also ask everyone who can afford to, to please include a $10 donation to help offset the shipping cost.
“If you want to include a larger inflatable gift, such as a soccer ball, please deflate it and include a hand pump so it can be inflated on arrival. Make sure you use a regular-size shoebox, not the larger ones since they must be packed in larger containers for shipping. A small plastic tote with a lid the size of a shoebox is also acceptable and will provide the child with a secure place for later use to keep their gifts or other items important to them.”
Children who participate in gathering items for shoeboxes may also include a personalized letter in the box wishing the recipient a merry Christmas and introducing themselves. They can even include an address for possible future correspondence.
Items that are not allowed include candy, toothpaste, anything used or damaged, war-related toys such as guns, knives or military figures, seeds, chocolate or other food, liquids or lotions, medications or vitamins, glass or breakable containers including snowglobes, and aerosol cans.
For more information, call the church at 606-534-4005 or Horn at 606-626-5666.