Back-to-School Shoppers Helping Haitian Kids

Adding a Few Extra Items to a Back-to-School Shopping List Can Help Make a Big Difference in the Lives of Needy Children Worldwide, Including Haitian Earthquake Victims

BOONE, N.C., Aug. 9, 2010— Kids in the United States are learning something surprising about back-to-school shopping - it's not just a time to fill their book bags and closets, it's also a great opportunity to fill shoe boxes to help children in need around the world. 

It may seem like an unusual addition to the annual back-to-school shopping spree, but, through Operation Christmas Child, families can make a real difference to a child in need by simply keeping the box from their new school shoes and filling it with small gifts.  Operation Christmas Child plans to hand-deliver shoe box gifts to more than 8 million struggling children in 100 countries this year, including Haiti, where the youngest victims of the earthquake are in desperate need of encouragement and hope.  An effort that massive means the project needs the help of American families, not only during the holidays, but also right now.

"Back-to-school shopping for Operation Christmas Child is fun and economical," said Jennifer Griffith, an Operation Christmas Child volunteer in Chicago.  "The sales allow our family to help even more needy kids overseas because we can get more for our money, stocking up on school supplies and arts and crafts items.  Plus it takes the focus off my kids and makes them think about the needs of others."

Operation Christmas Child, a project of international relief and evangelism organization Samaritan's Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, encourages volunteers to fill simple shoe boxes with toys, necessity items, school supplies, candy and hand-written notes of encouragement.  The gifts are then shared with children worldwide who are suffering because of natural disaster, disease, war, terrorism, famine and poverty.  For many of these children, the shoe box gift will be the first gift they have ever received, letting them know they are loved and not forgotten.

Why now - months before the holiday season?

Operation Christmas Child is not limited to just a few weeks a year.  It is a year-round project, requiring months of organization and preparation to reach millions of kids around the world.  Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has distributed shoe box gifts to more than 77 million hurting children in some 130 countries. 

HOW CAN I HELP NEEDY KIDS WORLDWIDE?  It's Simple!

• PREPARE - Help enlist families, churches, scout troops, community groups and businesses to take advantage of back-to-school sales by collecting discounted school supplies for shoe box gifts. 

 

• PACK - Fill shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items, hard candy and a letter of encouragement.  

Step-by-step shoe box packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call (800) 353-5949 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org.  National Collection Week for gift-filled shoe boxes is Nov. 15-22; however, shoe box gifts are collected all year at the Samaritan's Purse headquarters in Boone, N.C.

---

Coverage Opportunities

• Interview a local kid who is looking beyond their own wants to help a child overseas.   
• Interview a local volunteer who is working to help bring Christmas to 8 million needy children.
• Follow Operation Christmas Child staff via daily updates on Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo and YouTube

---

Quotes

Jennifer Griffith, an Operation Christmas Child volunteer in Chicago

• "Back-to-school shopping for Operation Christmas Child is fun and economical. The sales allow our family to help even more needy kids overseas because we can get more for our money, stocking up on school supplies and arts and crafts items.  Plus it takes the focus off my kids and makes them think about the needs of others."

---

About Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child is a kids-helping-kids project of Samaritan's Purse that uses simple gift-filled shoe boxes to let hurting children know that they are loved and not forgotten.

In 2010, Operation Christmas Child will reach more than 8 million children - many of whom have never received a gift before - with a message of hope and love.

 

-30-

Go Back