Shoe boxes bring surprises to needy children around world

Providing relief for underprivileged children is easier than some may think.

Joy and hope can be sent to a child through something as easy as a shoe box.

Operation Christmas Child, a relief program run by Samaritan's Purse, provides an opportunity for people of all ages to participate in a simple mission project by donating shoe boxes filled with gifts to be sent to children living in Third World countries. Many schools and churches in Las Vegas participate in Operation Christmas Child annually.

"It gives teens an opportunity to do something nice and help someone else," says Faith Lutheran High School senior Angie Miller, who has participated in Operation Christmas Child three years in a row. "It helps me sleep at night knowing that I helped some foreign children that are less fortunate than myself."

The shoe boxes are obtained from all over the country during national collection week. Once the shoe boxes are collected and sorted they are shipped off to many different countries, from the Philippines to Russia and even remote places such as Timbuktu.

"This year, Faith Lutheran collected 457 shoe boxes," says Faith Lutheran Religion Department Chairwoman Mary Dunning. "There are families who do it year after year and it's become part of their Christmas tradition."

Completed shoe boxes are also collected year-round by the Samaritan's Purse headquarters.

Shoe boxes should be filled with toys, school supplies, hygiene items, hard candy, sunglasses and other small items.

Faith Lutheran senior Cameron Tripp loves to go shopping for Operation Christmas Child.

"It's my favorite part because it's fun to pick everything out for people," Tripp says.

Faith Lutheran junior Evan Newton says he thinks it's important to volunteer when you're young.

"You learn your habits when you're a teen, and if you learn to give to others now, you'll give your whole life," Newton says.

"In all honesty I think America is being raised in a 'me' society," says Tripp. "It's important to give for selflessness."

Samaritan's Purse has collected more than 7.6 million shoe boxes for children.

"I think it helps these students realize that not everyone in the world is as fortunate as they are," Dunning says. "I'm always amazed at the generosity of these students."