Operation Christmas Child in Laramie this month
 |
| Children work with mentors on creating gift boxes at First Christian Church. Andy Carpenean/Boomerang photographer |
In the middle of a flurry of wrapping paper and tiny stuffed teddy bears with little hearts inside their chests, children’s’ laughter filled the common area at the First Christian Church Wednesday afternoon.
Over 20 school-aged children were participating in Operation Christmas Child, a worldwide program that collects shoebox gifts for children around the world that live in poverty, in orphanages, hospitals and places where there have been natural disasters or wars at Christmas time.
“This is a good missionary opportunity for kids,” Laramie Operation Christmas Child Coordinator Heather Larson said. “When people give money, the kids don’t get a lot out of that. This way, they know they are helping.”
Operation Christmas Child boxes are collected and shipped by Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization. This year several boxes will be going to the Philippines and Indonesia, as well as over 100 countries in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The boxes are distributed by churches within the countries and include a booklet about Jesus Christ called “The Greatest Gift of All” in their own language.
Last year, Operation Christmas Child collected almost eight million boxes worldwide. Almost five million were collected in the United States and 900 were collected in Laramie.
Larson said that anyone is welcome to assemble a box, and can get directions on how to do so at www.
samaritanspurse.org or by calling her at 399-8467.
Many different churches and organizations in Laramie participate in OCC each year, including the Cathedral Home for Children. In Laramie, each individual or church packs the shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, soap and toothbrushes, clothes and candy.
The boxes must be assembled by Nov. 22. These boxes will be collected at Laramie Valley Chapel, 4801 Quarter Horse Drive, 742-6781 from November 16-22 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4-6 p.m; on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; and on Sunday from 1-4 p.m.
Contact coordinators Larson and Jillian Racchini at 399-8467 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org for more information.
Carrie Haderlie’s e-mail address is lbedit11@laramieboomerang.com
Reader Comments
Leave Your Comments
There is a 100 word limitation per post.
Comments are not posted until after being approved by Laramie Boomerang staff.
Comments may be rejected by the Laramie Boomerang staff at their discretion.
The comments posted on the Reader Comments section are not necessarily those of the Laramie Boomerang.
If you would like to report an offensive post, please contact us.