Operation Narnia: Fans to Transform Shoe Boxes into Gifts of Hope

Partnership to Help Samaritan’s Purse Collect Gifts for 8 Million Needy Children in 100 Countries

BOONE, N.C., Aug. 2, 2010— Operation Christmas Child is partnering with the upcoming film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, set for release on Dec. 10.  Through this partnership, Narnia fans will be encouraged to participate in the world's largest Christmas project by packing shoe box gifts that will make a difference in the lives of needy children. 

In Narnia, it was always winter and never Christmas until Aslan arrived with hope.  In the same way, simple shoe box gifts filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items can bring hope to children around the world by reminding them they are loved and not forgotten.

"We're very excited to participate in the upcoming release of the movie, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse.  "We want children around the world to know the true meaning of Christmas-the birth of Jesus Christ-and the joy ­­­­­­­­­­­­­and hope that this brings."

In the third installment of the blockbuster series, by renowned Christian author and apologist, C.S. Lewis, Lucy and Edmund Pevensie embark upon an incredible adventure on the Narnian ship, the Dawn Treader, confronting obstacles beyond their imagination.  Like the Pevensies, shoe box gifts will make their own incredible journeys to more than 100 countries this season.  Operation Christmas Child will use whatever means necessary-ships, trucks, buses, trains, airplanes, boats, camels, and even dog sleds-for the gifts to reach the neediest children in the far corners of the earth.  For many children, these will be the first gifts they have ever received.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan's Purse, the international relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham.  Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has hand-delivered shoe box gifts in over 130 countries to more than 77 million children suffering from poverty, disaster, disease and war.

To learn more about the film and the Christmas project including how to pack an Operation Christmas Child shoe box gift, visit www.samaritanspurse.org or www.operationnarnia.com.

MEDIA NOTE:  For complete Operation Christmas Child media materials, including media kit and high-resolution, downloadable photos, visit www.DeMossNews.com/OCC.

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