Operation Christmas Child Helps Kids Have a Christmas

MCDONOUGH, Ga. - It's the world's largest Christmas project yet it's contained in a tiny shoebox.

This week, millions of shoeboxes are being collected across the country for children who would otherwise not have a Christmas.

Many of us can't imagine fitting all the gifts we receive during the holidays into a small shoebox. But for millions of children in other countries, it's their reality. But when they open that small box, the harsh realities of their world fades and is replaced with the true joy of Christmas.

A comb, a brush, a small toy, a deck of cards.

"You just can't believe how much stuff you can pack in a shoebox, it's amazing!" said April Mack.

You may consider the stuff packed in the shoeboxes small and insignificant, but to millions of children around the world, this is a little box of hope. Operation Christmas Child has for years collected shoebox gifts for children living in countries that have suffered from natural disaster, war, disease and famine.

Pinecrest Baptist Church in McDonough is just one of hundreds of collection sites. Volunteers sort the boxes and say for some families, it's their Christmas project

"What a great way to teach your children with all the gifts that they'll open at Christmas time. But here they can give to a child that will probably not receive anything at Christmas except a shoebox," said volunteer April Mack.

That's the reason Angela Knox says she and her family donate shoeboxes every year. She says she her children pick out the items.

"He thinks it's all for him but we have to tell them no, you have plenty of toys. We are giving them to people who do not have toys," said Angela Knox of McDonough.

You can use any shoebox to put your donations in and simply wrap it in gift wrapping paper. But if you put your donations in a plastic tub - not only do you put the donations inside but the children can also use teh container later.

"These boxes are used to store dry goods. People will use these to haul water in so these plastic boxes are great," said Mack.

Many times families donating the gifts include a note to the child and picture of their family and volunteers say the children always write back. It demonstrates the ability of a small gift to make a big impact.

"It does impact a life. It changes some these childrens' lives forever," said Mack.

Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect eight million boxes.

For more information on where you can drop off a shoebox and what you can pack it in, go to www.samaritanspurse.org .