Shoebox packing parties in full swing for Operation Christmas Child

Brenda Evans, a volunteer with Operation Christmas Child, helps Kathleen Staab of Hays pack a shoebox at the Buckeye Family and Consumer Education group’s Oct. 17 meeting. In the background are Ellen Schmidt of Hays and her 4-month-old granddaughter, Cora. (Courtesy photo)

Judy Cohen of Hays, a member of the Buckeye Family and Consumer Education group, looks over items to select from while packing two shoeboxes. (Courtesy photo)

By LINN ANN HUNTINGTON

It’s that time of year. The holidays are quickly approaching, and that means Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing parties are in full swing.

Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, a disaster relief organization headquartered in Boone, N.C. Each year thousands of individuals pack shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and personal hygiene items to distribute to needy children around the world.

Messiah Lutheran Church, 2000 Main, will be hosting a shoebox packing party beginning at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, and the community is invited to participate.

One group that has already had a packing party is the Buckeye Family and Consumer Education group, which held its event Oct. 17 at Ellis Estates in Hays.

Some of the club members brought their own items; others used donated items provided by OCC. Club members were responsible for providing the $9 shipping fee required for each box. Some of the members chose to pack one box; others decided to pack two.

Linda Collins and Brenda Evans, two OCC volunteers, were on hand to pass out empty OCC shoeboxes and to assist the group members in selecting items for either a boy or a girl in one of three age groups.

Ellen Schmidt of Hays said she had packed boxes before with another civic organization.

“I have a lot of grandkids,” Schmidt said, “and I know how much they enjoy these things.”

Kathleen Staab of Hays was a first-time packer.

Referring to her four grandchildren, Staab said she wanted to participate in the event because “if you can make kids feel good, that’s a good thing.”

Bonnie Flora, a retired teacher, recently moved to Hays from California. She said she wanted to get involved in packing a box because she remembered a time when a child came to school without any panties on. The girl’s family simply couldn’t afford them. Flora made sure she packed clothing items in her box.

Those wishing to pack their own shoeboxes may find a list of suggested items at www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.

All told, the Buckeye members packed 14 shoeboxes in about an hour.

In 2018, more than 10.6 million shoeboxes were collected worldwide, with more than 6,800 of those collected in northwest Kansas. Rachel Albin, Northwest Kansas coordinator for OCC, said this year’s goal for her area is 7,363 boxes, an increase of 9 percent from 2018.

But Albin said she is confident the goal will be met, especially as more churches and civic groups schedule more packing parties between now and Shoebox Collection Week.

That week will be Nov. 18 through 25. Ellis County has two shoebox drop-off sites, Messiah Lutheran and CrossPoint Church, 13th and Harvest Road. All shoeboxes collected in Ellis County will then be taken to Denver for processing, then shipped to various countries.

Those wishing to schedule a shoebox packing party or wanting more information about OCC can contact Albin at (785) 639-1325 or [email protected].