Operation Christmas Child packing holiday magic into a shoebox

We're still gearing up to trick-or-treat, of course, but for many, the Christmas season is top of mind. The most joyous time of year can be the hardest for children who are less fortunate. Operation Christmas Child, though, looking to change that with a simple shoebox. Yes, you heard that right. Oliver Heimer, volunteer, joining us here with more on how you can really make a difference. You guys, this is a huge nationwide effort, but really big here in Metro Detroit. Yes, absolutely. We are a global international relief organization, part of that Samaritan's Purse. And Operation Christmas Child has been active for many, many years. Yeah, so for anyone who may not be familiar, which hard to believe, right, just talk to us about what this means, how it works. So since 1993, we are collecting shoeboxes and try those boxes to send them out to children in less privileged areas, in war zones, actually disaster areas, even like sickness and everything that comes along with that. And bring the love of God that we received to the children of the world. So that's our ministry. We try to build shoeboxes with toys, with fun, with excitement. A lot of times those children don't even get any attention, not the least, even a present. So for them to receive a box full of toys, that's really big. So great to say that Detroit is a very giving community. You said hundreds. I mean, Wayne County alone was, what, 30,000 last year or so? Yes, and a little bit, yes. Just Wayne. So everything around it's even in the, you know, we're looking at 200, 300,000 boxes. 12 million nationwide. So we have some boxes here. This is kind of an example of what goes inside. And there's a little bit of a strategy because you kind of have a wow factor in each box, right? Can you kind of walk us through that? So what we like to do is we like to distinguish between actually girls and boys. We have age groups as well, that it's easier to hand out boxes that are appropriate for ages of young, 2 to 4, for 5 to 10, 9, and from 10 to 14. And so you can see, you can put what they really need in the shoeboxes, toys of course, you know, something cuddly like a wow factor or maybe like, yeah, like a teddy bear, yeah, something you cuddle. Of course, then, you know, a wow factor also like a soccer ball that is always, you can play by yourself or with friends and everything. And so then the other thing that is needed is also like personal hygiene, which they sometimes don't even have toothbrushes or washcloth. And then also school supplies like, you know, pencils, paper, just really the minimum. Yeah, everyday essentials. And there's also that spiritual side you guys have here, you know, just to spread the faith. But also what I love, too, is there's always a personal note, you know, to the kids, right? Yes. That's what we encourage everybody who packs a shoebox. Make it personal. Write something encouraging. And also what I like to do with our family, it's also like, you know, share the gospel there as well. Say that you have been loved and that you have been forgiven. And that is something why you want to share that with a kid that is maybe completely remote on the other side of the globe. And so you don't have to do a box. You can give online as well, correct? We have the chance to go online and build a shoebox. So anyways, please check out Samaritan's Purse and OCC. and you will find that all information how you can pack a shoebox and how you can actually participate as well because we're coming up to our collection period right now in the third week of november which starts november 16th to the 23rd we will have local churches being open and collecting any shoebox you want to give or something that you have picked up in your church and collect it and build with your family. All right. We'll have more information on our website fox2detroit.com. Oliver, thank you so much.