Operation Christmas Child is a worldwide children's project that uses simple gift-filled shoeboxes containing school supplies, toys, necessity items and notes of encouragement to let hurting children know God loves them.
For the third year, Darwin Knight and Sally McSherry from the Coquille Church joined Samaritan’s Purse in gathering boxes in November for this worthwhile purpose.
The difference this year was the offer of a personal shopper to gather the items for the shoeboxes. McSherry prepared more than 165 boxes.
Operation Christmas Child reached a major milestone in 2014 — delivering shoeboxes to more than 113 million children since the project began in 1993.
Millions of hurting children who are victims of poverty, natural disaster, war, terrorism and famine receive Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts. For some of these boys and girls, it is the first gift they have ever received. Through the power of a simple gift and the message of hope through Jesus Christ, these children learn that they are loved and not forgotten.
Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts will be hand-delivered to children in more than 150 countries on six continents. Most of the 16,902 boxes collected from the Roseburg District will be going to the Philippines.
The Coquille Church put together 195 shoeboxes and the Bandon Church 30. As a collection point, the Coquille Church collected 514 boxes — up from 305 in 2012.