For the final donation event of the TVS season of giving, TVS employees collected over 700 items for Operation Christmas Child. Toys, health and hygiene items, and school supplies were all collected and stuffed into shoeboxes for children in need around the world.
TVS requested that the shoebox donation items were all for children ages 10 to 14. This is the oldest age group in Operation Christmas Child, and it is also the group that normally receives the least amount of gifts.
TVS had preordered 50 shoeboxes directly from the Operation Christmas Child site and by the end of the two-week donation period all the boxes were filled. The collected items remaining were donated to help fill more boxes.
“I have never done this project before,” said INTERACT participant Taylor. “I think my favorite toy that I put in a box was the Hot Wheels cars.”
All the boxes were stuffed with health and hygiene and school supply items by Human Resources (HR) staff before being having the “Wow” items added by INTERACT participants. These “Wow” items are the larger items such as toys, dolls, and sport balls.
At the end of the box stuffing, all boxes had around 10 to 15 items.
INTERACT participant Laura said, “It’s fun to help the children. I love it.” Not only did Laura help stuff the boxes, she also donated personal care items for the donation and prayed over the boxes for their safe travels and the joy they are bringing to the children.
To help cover the costs, an anonymous TVS employee donated the nine-dollars per box fee needed for shipping and other project costs.
“Those who donated truly gave with their full hearts for this donation,” said Kayde Hopkins, Administrative Assistant. “I personally love Christmas and the thought of children being excited as they receive these gifts is what this is all about.”
All the shoeboxes were dropped-off at Brevard Wesleyan Church on Thursday, Nov. 19.
The Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child has delivered more than 178 million shoebox gifts around the world since 1993 and collected more than 10.5 million shoeboxes for the 2019 initiative.
They collect shoebox gifts and deliver them to children in need around the world to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way. For many of these children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.
If you are interested in donating requested items, the Operation Christmas Child national collection week is from Nov. 16-23 and donations can still be locally dropped off at Brevard Wesleyan Church or Little River Baptist Church.
You can also build a box online at https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/buildonline/. Learn more about Operation Christmas Child at https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/.