Finding hope and love in a shoebox

If you ask Overland Park mom Jelyn Franzon about her all-time favorite present, she will tell you about a simple shoebox she received when she was young. It was filled just with notebooks, stickers, soap and a toothbrush, but its impact still can bring tears to her eyes.

Jelyn (short for Evangeline) grew up near Cebu in the Philippines. The neighborhood where she lived was attractive at first, but began to deteriorate quickly after a dump site opened nearby. Her family faced challenges as well. Her father lost his job, and her mother went to the dump site to find things she could sell for money. Jelyn frequently skipped school to help take care of her younger siblings, and they lived in a homemade of cardboard that didn’t hold up well during the rainy season.

Finding food and the basics was often a struggle. Faced with this reality, Jelyn’s younger sister began going to a feeding program at a local church; Jelyn soon followed. One day, the church put on a program in the neighborhood in conjunction with Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse.

At the time, Jelyn was 13 and thought she was too old to receive one of the shoebox gifts. In fact, she even helped pass out the gifts to younger children. Yet deep inside, she really wanted to receive her own box because she had never before received a gift. Much to her amazement, after the other boxes were distributed, she also was given her very own.

It was as if that specific box were intended just for her. The school supplies and hygiene items inside were invaluable to her and just what she wanted. Jelyn loves writing, and having her own notebook provided an outlet for her creativity.

Jelyn believes the gift was a reminder of God’s love. After receiving that treasured box and getting plugged in with the local church, Jelyn began to understand how God loves and cares for her and has a plan for her life.

“It really solidified how God cared for me and my family,” Jelyn says. “It was God saying, ‘I am your Heavenly Father.’”

Jelyn now makes the Kansas City area home with her husband and two young daughters. She enjoys packing shoeboxes with her family, sharing her story and encouraging others to get involved. She loves that she can serve with her family to make a difference together and teach her daughters the value of giving back.

This year marks the project’s 25th anniversary, and getting involved is easy. Simply find any empty shoebox and decide whether you would like your gift to go to a boy or a girl. Choose an age range (2-4, 5-9 or 10-14) and fill the box with various toys, hygiene items and school supplies. You even can personalize the boxes by including a drawing from your child or a portrait of your family.

A $9 donation is requested to cover the cost of shipping, and if you pay on the Operation Christmas Child website, you can print out a label and track where in the world the box goes.

Finally, during national collection week, Nov. 12-19, enter your zip code into the zip code locator on the website to display drop-off locations near you. Many local churches, like Lenexa Baptist Church, are centrally located drop off locations.  You’ll find dozens of spots all over the Kansas City area.

Allison Gibeson is a Lee’s Summit mom and year-round volunteer with Operation Christmas Child.

More information can be found on the Operation Christmas Child website at SamaritansPurse.org/operation-christmas-child.