Shoebox Ministry gives back to needy children around the world

In an overwhelming display of holiday generosity, local churches filled more than 550 shoeboxes with gifts for needy children. Distributed worldwide to children who would otherwise go without, the shoeboxes epitomize the true spirit of the holidays.
Parishioners of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church on Arnold Drive filled an amazing 501 shoeboxes. Sonoma Community Church at Chase and Second Streets also did their part, as did Christian Mission Alliance on Watmaugh Road.
St. Andrew member Odessa Sanden has been involved with the Shoebox Ministry for the past three seasons. She’s seen the effort grow and grow, with this year’s endeavor breaking last year’s record. “We were so elated with the 275 shoeboxes we filled last year. But collecting 501 shoeboxes is truly amazing. We are ecstatic and thankful to everyone who participated,” says Sanden.
The Shoebox Ministry is part of an organization called Operation Christmas Child/ Samaritan’s Purse. Nationwide, each November and December, teams of volunteers collect donations either in the form of filled shoeboxes, or money with which to fill them. Then, the millions of filled shoeboxes are collected and shipped to one of six warehouses throughout the United States where each one is inspected and prepared for shipment throughout the world. Last year’s total of shoeboxes distributed was 7.6 million. This year, Operation Christmas Child is hoping for an unprecedented 8 million shoeboxes.
The Operation Christmas Child program was first brought to St. Andrew Presbyterian by a member named Mary Martin in 1993. At the church, parishioners select a shoebox label for either a girl or boy and then choose which age they’d like to buy for: two to four years old; five to nine years old; or 10 to fourteen years old. Each shoebox is filled with small toys, educational items, and personal hygiene products – anything but liquids, perishables and war items. Some examples include tiny stuffed animals with handmade blankets; pencils, crayons and miniature notebooks; trucks, balls and small dolls as well as items like toothbrushes and soap. Hard candy and lollipops can also be included as well as things like t-shirts and socks, hairclips and jewelry. Shoeboxes can either be cardboard – which many families wrap in brightly colored Christmas wrap – or reusable plastic with a snap-on lid. Many families who participate also include a note to the child and a photo of themselves and their families. Many times, a child who receives a shoebox will correspond with the family who filled it.
Margaret Hage, a member of Sonoma Community Church, said parishioners were eager to help, sending donations of gifts, money and wrapping paper. “We even had a local boy named Aaron Dabney buy supplies for shoeboxes with money he found on the ground on Halloween night,” said Hage. “This 12-year-old boy could have spent that money on himself but instead, he thought of others. It brings tears to my eyes.” Dabney and his family – brother Levi and mother SuJean – then became quite involved in the Shoebox Ministry for their church, transporting all 50-plus boxes to Santa Rosa for shipping.
“The children who receive these shoeboxes have nothing,” says Sanden. “Oftentimes they are orphans or live in war-torn parts of the world. Without this gift, they would most likely not receive anything for Christmas.”
Sanden went on to state that the shoeboxes are distributed wherever there are children in need. Be it Africa, Bosnia, China, India or, even in the U.S. after events like Hurricane Katrina. And, she attributes St. Andrew Presbyterian’s stupendous increase in donations this year to peoples’ passion for reaching out to children.
“The millions of children who receive these shoeboxes not only receive gifts, they also receive God’s love. It’s what Christmas is all about,” concluded Sanden.