My journey with Operation Christmas Child began in 2004. The church we were going to at the time packed shoeboxes and I got involved and packed one. Then on November 27th 2004 we went to the Charlotte Processing Center where the boxes are sorted and inspected before going to the children. That is where I fell in LOVE! I cried when I walked in. The love was so overwhelming!
I am the one in orange in the front. =)
Even then I was all smiles! In my element. =) See my head peeping under the purple sign??
To make a long story short- for years I packed shoe boxes but then I became a year round volunteer in 2011. I was a community relations team member then a community relations coordinator and now I have the privilege of being an Area Coordinator! I lead a team of volunteers that serves 3 counties in western North Carolina. We help churches, organizations and individuals learn how to pack shoe boxes and equip them to do more year after year! I LOVE what I do!
And here I am now!!
So why do I love shoe boxes so much? Well in case you do not know what I am talking about I will explain it to you. You take a simple box that you bought your shoes in and you feel it with toys, hard candy, school supplies, and non liquid hygiene items and then you take it to a local drop off location during the third week of November. You can find where your local drop off location is by vising Samaritans Purse just before this time. OR you can ship them to the Boone, NC office year round. You can find the address of the Boone office here. You can even track your shoebox to see where in the world it goes by printing a tracking label through "Track Your Box."
But then the fun begins!! The shoebox will be shipped to a child somewhere around the world!! For some, a shoebox will be the only NEW gift they ever receive. Some of these children are orphans and some have NOTHING that is THEIRS personally! We have video's and pictures of these children opening their shoe box gift and being SO EXCITED over a toothbrush, toothpaste, candy or a pencil!!!! Can you imagine what you would feel like if your child had NEVER gotten anything new OR to wish that you could buy them a PENCIL!??? It is amazing to see how God guides these gifts to the right child at just the right time!! Then once the child gets their gift we tell them about the gift God gave to all of us- Jesus! Children's lives are being changed through a SIMPLE SHOE BOX GIFT!!
I am going to the Philippines in May of 2014 to help HAND DELIVER some of these shoe boxes to children there! You can bet there will be tons of pictures here! But I only get to go IF I RAISE THE MONEY!! Samaritans Purse is a nonprofit organization and can not pay for these fees out of their money.
We are still waiting on our final totals to be given to us because they have to book our flights etc. but we know it will be AT LEAST $3200. To date (3-19-2014) I have $1200 which means I still need $2000!! If the Lord lays on your heart to support me financially I would be grateful!
ATTN: Amy DeHart
PO Box 3000
Boone, NC 28607
At this time Samaritan’s Purse is unable to receive online donations for OCC distribution trips. Donors may submit credit/debit card information by mail, email (adehart@samaritan.org), secure fax line (828-268-5805), or phone (828-278-1083)
THANK YOU TO MY SUPPORTERS
without their support my trip WOULD NOT be possible!
Paul and Kathy Crowder
Edith Street
Jennifer Davis
Amanda McComas
Chrissy Helton
Cindy and Dale Milling
Sunday School Class at Polkville Baptist
Ann Self
Denise Carrick
Mark Johnson
Temple of Truth Church Gastonia
Brandy Walker- 31 Gifts Fundraiser
And all those who bought candy bars, pocketbooks, and knives from fundraisers! ;)
***Update***
ReplyDeleteToday our domestic plane tickets were purchased! Now waiting on the international ones! Getting so excited!