A diary shot today... for the past 4 or 5 years, some friends and I have spent the day in Boone, North Carolina, sorting, inspecting and packaging shoesboxes filled with toys, school supplies, hygiene products, and other small items that would delight a child's heart! We volunteer at the Processing Center for Operation Christmas Child, a division of Samaritan's Purse. This ministry began in 1993 and as of this year will have distributed more than 100 million shoeboxes to needy children throughout the world. Hundreds of thousands of individuals, civic groups, and churches make this possible. More than 65,000 volunteers at six processing centers get all those shoeboxes ready to be distributed. More than 35,000 shoeboxes were processed in Boone while we were there, all bound for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to the Republic of Cameroon in central Africa. But more important than the material items sent to children worldwide, is the hope they are offered in Jesus Christ, the reason we celebrate Christmas. SOOC
I wonder how they assess a needy family! Some of our "needy" families have scooters for the children and satellite TV! You all are doing such a good thing for the truly needy!
@maggiemae Most of these children are in third world countries, and are distributed using local pastors and churches. The ones we processed yesterday were going to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to the Republic of Cameroon, both in central Africa. But I understand what you mean about some 'needy' people... it really angers me when the girl in front of me at the grocery is using food stamps paid for by my tax dollars and she is talking on a smart phone I can't afford!
@drussell I wanted to post the one of the three of you with the large poster, but neither turned out well, so I ended up with a generic shot. But I had a great time, again!
Quite a production. When my kids were in preschool , we were donating similar shoe boxes through their school. Now I know what was happening with them.
What a cool shot of "Santa" as work.