Davenport Area Contributes to 59,000 Gift-Filled Shoeboxes Collected Statewide for Children in Need

Nov. 16 - 23: National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts

Davenport, IA, Dec. 9, 2015–Nearly 59,000 children will soon experience the joy of Christmas, thanks to the Davenport and other Iowa communities. Residents packed empty shoeboxes with small items like toys, school supplies and hygiene items for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse that sends gifts to children living in difficult situations around the world.

For those who missed National Collection Week, you can still get involved. Through the Samaritan's Purse website, you can virtually "pack" a shoebox, allowing anyone with a computer or mobile device to provide a tangible gift to a child a world away.

At samaritanspurse.org/buildonline, visitors can select a child's age and gender, shop through an online selection of culturally relevant gifts, and finish by uploading a photo and writing a note of encouragement to the child who will receive it. After the shoeboxes are packed and sent by the Operation Christmas Child team, participants can discover where in the world their gifts will be delivered. It is a convenient yet meaningful way to join in a project that brings hope to children in need.

The virtual-packing tool also offers participants the option to challenge friends to participate or the opportunity to share the gift of giving through a shoebox gift card.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 124 million children in more than 150 countries and territories. In 2015, Operation Christmas Child hopes to deliver gifts to another 11 million children.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 612-359-7025 or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.