St. Stephens United Methodist Church serves as Amarillo's collection site for the shoe boxes full of gifts
AMARILLO, TEXAS -- With Christmas just around the corner, many will try to find ways to help out those less fortunate for the holidays. One such project is underway here in Amarillo, Operation Christmas Child, a global project providing shoe boxes full of gifts to children all over the world.
For over a decade now the folks at St. Stephens United Methodist Church have helped collect and send the shoe boxes full of toys, school supplies, necessity items, and gifts.
Last year over 85-hundred shoe boxes were shipped out from St. Stephens, joining the nearly 5-million shipped world wide.
"I think this is a simple way to give a big gift to children around the world who are not going to have any type of Christmas, much less even understanding the meaning of the word, so this is an opportunity for local folks to give a simple gift and to spread the message of Jesus Christ throughout the world," said Barbara Sheller, Volunteer Coordinator at St. Stephens.
Each child will receive a shoe box full of various gifts, plus an information booklet on Jesus Christ and Christianity written in their native language.
"The kids are so excited when they receive these boxes, one of our families from Amarillo was able to go and deliver shoe boxes last year in Panama, and they said that the kids excitement and the adults excitement was just ecstatic, and they got to see the love of people and the love of God through these gifts," said Sheller.
So how do you participate?
First choose an age group and sex, 2-4, 5-9, or 12 and up, either boy or girl. Once you've got that settled then fill up a shoe box with everything from clothing, necessity items, toys, coloring books, socks, gloves, hats, hair ties, toothbrushes, combs, school supplies, to whatever else you can cram into the shoe box.
What's not allowed? Chocolate and liquids are the only two items you must avoid when filling the shoe box.
You must put a label on the box (age and sex purchased for) along with $7 for shipping costs.
Collections will be ongoing until Monday November 23rd, everyday from 9 AM to 5 PM, and in the evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Drop off your shoe box full of gifts to St. Stephens United Methodist Church, located at 4600 S. Western in Amarillo, or call St. Stephens at (806)355-7271 for more information.
