According to the description of Operation Christmas Child on the Samaritan’s Purse website, “as shoebox gifts are distributed, local pastors or church leaders present the Gospel in a fun way designed for kids while family and friends listen in. Along with their shoebox gift, children also receive ‘The Greatest Gift,’ a colorful presentation of the Gospel in their own language.”
The Caribou High School National Honor Society, one of many Aroostook County groups who participated in Operation Christmas Child, recently donated 40 shoeboxes to the cause.
Caribou United Baptist Church is the Operation Christmas Child collection center for Aroostook County. According to Charlis Sullivan, the Aroostook County Operation Christmas Child event coordinator, this is their second year collecting gifts in the area.
“It was rainy earlier and really slow,” said Sullivan. “I didn’t think there was going to be much activity, and all of a sudden boxes started pouring in. Last year we collected nearly 3,000 boxes.”
At the conclusion of their program early this week, Operation Christmas Child collected a total of 3,444 boxes, which Sullivan says “surpassed their goals and expectations.”
When the group finishes collecting boxes, they are loaded into a trailer truck outside of the church and transported to Charlotte, North Carolina.
“From Charlotte, they will go all around the world,” explained Sullivan. “Samaritan’s Purse is a relief organization, so whenever you see a group on the news providing Syrian refugees or people in need with blankets, they are usually responsible. The idea is that children will know that they are loved.”
Participation from communities surrounding Caribou hasbeen positive. Mars Hill collectively donated over 500 boxes, and Houlton also gave a sizable amount to the organization as well.
“It’s amazing that we’re getting ready to feast at Thanksgiving,” said Sullivan, “and all these people are packing boxes. They’re really full of love if you look through some of them. You’ll see little shirts and shoes and all kinds of items these people took time to pick out. It shows that they are really thinking of the child when packing the box.”
