Published: November 18, 2008 09:49 am            

Shoe boxes filled with hope

Operation Christmas Child national shoe box collection week kicked off Monday

There is a new use for those junk-filled shoe boxes you keep under your bed.

Operation Christmas Child is asking for boxes packed with special items for children in third-world countries. The boxes are filled with toys, school supplies, hygiene items and a personal note.

Sheila Smith, a volunteer with Operation Christmas Child said a collection site has been located in Athens since 2002. This year the site is at 1700 S. Palestine in Athens.

“This week is the national collection week Operation Christmas Smile,” Smith said. “After Friday the shoe boxes will be sent to Tyler and then to another collection site before being sent out of the country.”

Packed shoe boxes can be dropped of at the site from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. everyday this week. Also, information about the project and packing a shoe boxes can be picked up at the site.

Smith said she has personally been a part of the organization since 1998. Each year she is thankful that she can help someone who might not have enough for Christmas.

“ I just think of kids who don’t have a lot to begin with,” Smith said. “To brighten their world even temporarily is what it means to me.”

Smith said the children are in need of items that American’s take for granted: soap, toothbrush. However, they also enjoy toys as well.

“My niece went to Costa Rico to pass out (shoe) boxes a few years ago and she said the children just went crazy about the Play-Doh,” Smith said.

“Now I make sure to put some Play-Doh in every box I pack.”

For more information about packing a shoe box, go to the Samaritan’s Purse Web site at www.samaritanspurse.org, or call 1-800-810-3952.

        

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