Community participates in Operation Christmas Child

With a mission to give children across the world aid, Operation Christmas Child is sending shoeboxes of school supplies, toys and personal care items to underprivileged children around the holidays. (Submitted)

The Goodyear community is rallying to help underprivileged children across the world through Operation Christmas Child — an event that helps gather necessary school supplies for students in need.

Hosted by Samaritan’s Purse, the event is entering its 30th year with hopes of making the 2023 version the best one to date.

“It really is all about sharing a tangible gift with children that shows them God’s love, and we do that through a simple shoe box,” said Nancy Johnston, area coordinator for the Operation Christmas Child West Valley team.

The nondenominational mission was started in 1993, with a focus on giving back to communities across the globe that lacked access to fundamental supplies. The idea turned into reality when Samaritan’s Purse decided to lean into the good will of their communities and compile a form of care package that they could then send out to recipients.

Using a shoebox as that vessel, they began to pile in pencils, pens and notebooks, among other things, that would help encourage and inspire students to further their educational journeys.

Along with the supplies, though, Johnston said Samaritan Purse’s mission is passed along as well.

“They’re getting new school supplies, and to be able to tangibly show a child in another country that someone else is thinking about them, that you care about them, that God cares about them and that they can receive something in their shoe box that literally can change their life,” she said. “It can be tangible items as well as just knowing God. Those are things that can literally change a person’s life.”

Of the many shoeboxes that Operation Christmas Child sends out, the event has heard several reaction stories to their gesture.

One of those stories is of a student in Southeast Asia, Justin Thomas.

Thomas grew up with hand-me-down clothes and used items. He also took notes with just one pencil — one that was so small, he had to use a pen cap just to be able to grip it.

The shoebox he received was “life-changing” for him and helped open doors for him to receive an education.

With the multitude of shoeboxes that the event ships out, more stories like Thomas’ are out there, and Johnston said when she hears them, it is “tremendous.”

“We have speakers at Operation Christmas Child who are previous shoebox recipients,” she said. “They come to events, and they tell their stories about where they have been in a war-torn area, where they’ve seen literally in front of them, their grandparents or their parents shot because of this particular war. How they received a shoe box, perhaps they were in an orphanage, and to see the difference and the blessings that they have received in their life because of this one shoe box — it was a catalyst for their future.”

Since the event’s conception, its reach has grown exponentially. Recently distributing its 200 millionth box last year, they have been able to impact children in the far reaches of the planet.

“It’s really encouraging that the work that we do here has such an impact globally,” Johnston said. “I just think that’s something that is really special that Operation Christmas Child does in their communication, to make sure that it’s done and supported on in a local way to where there are people in their own communities on the other side of the world who are supporting where those shoeboxes go and developing relationships.

“It’s not a one-and-done, in-and-out (event), but we’re actually looking to build relationships in those communities.”

With the event scheduled to start the week of Nov. 13, Operation Christmas Child has even added a way for people to track their box. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover when the box will arrive and where it will be going.

Overall, the community pitching in to help children all over receive a gift around the holidays will continue to spread Operation Christmas Child’s mission of giving every child an opportunity to succeed.

“It’s all because of God’s input,” Johnston said. “We’re sending a tangible gift, but indeed, God is blessing that recipient and incredible things happen in their life. And so just to hear the stories of what happened physically, emotionally, spiritually, to some of these recipients, it really encouraged us to keep moving into the future with this because it makes a difference.”

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