Thousands of volunteers from churches and community groups nationwide have mobilized at Operation Christmas Child drop-off locations this week, eager to receive and eventually send out shoebox gifts to kids worldwide this Christmas.
This includes several sites statewide on Oʻahu, Kaua’i, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island. Need to locate the nearest drop-off location to you? Search here online by ZIP code.
Those who still want to pack a physical shoebox this season, can, through Monday, Nov. 24, according to Area Coordinator East Oʻahu Cindy Dorflinger. But by Tuesday, she says Matson containers full of boxes will be shipped to California and then onto their final destinations. Logistics are primarily overseen by volunteers, she added.
Last year, Hawai’i packed just over 47,000 shoeboxes, she said. “Our goal is 50,000 this year and we’re well on our way.”
“We want the boxes to be packed fun, full and personalized. Fun is a wow item, something that will really make a kid happy; full is that we want it to be packed full of supplies, hygiene items, clothes and toys; and then a personalized note from the donor is treasured by the kids,” Dorflinger said. “A shoebox is supposed to be a tangible expression of God’s love for them.”
This year's theme is "It's all about Jesus!" She noted that the overall vision of Operation Christmas Child is to teach kids the gospel story, which the organization offers via a discipleship course.
“What goes into a shoebox is fun. What comes out is eternal!” she said. “I love seeing the church come together and work as one body.”
Since 1993, more than 232 million children spanning 170 countries and territories have received a shoebox gift.
Samaritan’s Purse also offers a way to build shoeboxes virtually and is accepting monetary donations. Learn more here.
For those interested in connecting with Dorflinger to learn more about partnering with Operation Christmas Child, email occoahueast@gmail.com. For more information about becoming a year-round volunteer, go here.
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
