Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes Impact Lives
We are the Fishers – Steve, Carolyn, Ellie & Micah. Our family has participated in the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Collection for many years. We have packed shoeboxes for so long that the kids don’t remember a time when we didn’t pack them. Ellie & Micah love to shop for special and specific items for each shoebox. They always add a note with a picture in hopes that someday we might hear back from a child who received one of our shoeboxes. We also track our shoeboxes and learn about the countries where our shoeboxes are distributed.
For the last few years, we have volunteered at Severn Run during Collection Week, accepting shoeboxes from groups bringing them in and then packing them into shipping boxes that go to the Processing Center. The kids enjoy helping and it’s great for them to be involved in another step in the process.
Last year was special for us. Ellie is in a Christian character development program called American Heritage Girls. As a sixth grader last year, Ellie was eligible to earn an award by fulfilling certain requirements, one of which was helping to plan, organize, and run a special event for the Troop. Since Operation Christmas Child is so special to her, she wanted to have a packing party and shoebox collection for her Troop.
Her goal for the Troop was to pack and collect 100 shoeboxes. With the support of Pastor Steve and Elaine at Severn Run, she planned and ran a very successful packing party and collection, even being recognized as the youngest Project Leader at an OCC Project Leaders’ Workshop.
After more than 20 hours of planning, packing, and delivering shoeboxes to drop off locations, our Troop exceeded its goal and collected 120 shoeboxes! We also took some of the girls from our Troop on a tour of the OCC Processing Center and met a young lady who received a box when she was a child.
Ellie is hoping to either run the packing party and shoebox collection again this year, or have the opportunity to mentor a younger girl as that girl leads the project. We are also excited that Ellie will be old enough to volunteer at the Processing Center this year, and may even spend part of her birthday there.
We are thankful to American Heritage Girls for the opportunity for Ellie to develop her leadership skills and to Severn Run for all the encouragement and support they have provided for Ellie and our family.
We are looking forward to a great year with Operation Christmas Child and praying for everyone here as they are packing shoeboxes, and the children and families around the world who will receive a shoebox this year!
CF