Operation Christmas Child ramps up Utah shoebox drive
Volunteers in Salt Lake County are gathering toys and school supplies for children in more than 100 countries ahead of a national collection week in mid-November.
By Giulia Donovan ·
Ten-year-old Josie is packing a shoebox with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items at Corner Canyon Church in Draper, Utah.
The box is part of a larger effort that could deliver a gift to a child in another country. The project, known as Operation Christmas Child, operates in more than 100 nations.
Christy, a speaker for the initiative, grew up in the Middle East and received her first shoebox at age nine. She recalled the specific moment she pulled out a teddy bear. "My teddy bear that I pulled out, actually, I looked at it and I looked at its eyes and I went It has its eyes on straight," she said. "You could go anywhere in my country and not find a teddy bear with its eyes on straight."
Weber, a year-round volunteer in the Salt Lake area, noted that most recipient countries face poverty, disease, war, and famine. She stated that for many children, the shoebox will be the first gift they have ever received.
Participation in the Salt Lake area has grown in recent years. Weber reported that approximately 80 churches took part in the project last year. She indicated that financial pressure on families in recipient nations has increased the value of school supplies included in the boxes. "For a lot of the children in these countries, school supplies are critical," Weber said. "They have to supply their own school supplies in order to attend school."
Christy became involved with the organization after dropping off boxes with her family. She mentioned that she had previously received a shoebox as a child. The volunteer at the drop-off location recognized her story immediately.
Josie, who is currently filling her own box, expressed a desire to share the excitement of receiving a gift. "It doesn't mean some of us are higher than others and other ones are lower," she said. "We should help everyone."
National Collection Week is scheduled to run from Nov. 16 to 23. Donors can find information on drop-off locations through the organization's online resources.
