Operation Christmas Child

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 135 million gift-filled shoe boxes to children in more than 150 nations and territories. Elena Hagemeier is one of those children who received a shoebox. Born into poverty in Russia, she and her sister were left on their own each day to fend for themselves. As the older of the two, Elena took on the role of caregiver for her younger sister. The two spent their days searching for food and playing with rocks and sticks to pass the time.

When she was 8, she and her sister were placed in an orphanage. While not an ideal situation, the institution provided the girls with shelter and three meals a day. She and her sister also attended school for the first time. Elena started first grade at the age of 8. After two years, the girls were moved to a different orphanage. Even though life in the orphanage was more stable, Elena often felt unloved and worthless. Her future looked bleak. At 12, she felt her time and options were limited.

At her lowest, Elena was given a gift of a shoebox through Operation Christmas Child. It was the very first gift she had ever received. The box was wrapped so nicely she didn’t even want to open it for fear that what was inside would be a disappointment. After watching her sister open hers, she lifted the lid off of the box and was amazed by all of the pink it contained. Pink toothpaste caught her eye, along with a pink pen, adorned with feathers and a heart on top. When she tested the pen to make sure it worked, she was ecstatic to see the heart on top light up!

Even more than the gifts, Elena was intrigued by the book she received in her box—The Greatest Gift—telling her the story of Jesus. To her, the story was just another fairy tale, but there was something she read that made her think perhaps this story was true. Because of the book, she began to pray to be adopted. She prayed not only that she be adopted, but that she and her sister be adopted into the same family. In 2004 her prayers were answered when a family in the United States adopted her and her sister.

Since being adopted, Elena has graduated college and now plans to be a missionary. The gift of one small box had a huge impact on Elena’s life. By packing a box this fall, you can have an impact on someone’s life. What a great way for you and your family to give back during the holidays.

Information on packing:

1. Choose a Box

Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift.

2. Boy or Girl?

Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label by downloading the artwork at SamaritansPurse.org. Mark the correct age category on the label and tape the label to the top of your box.

3. Fill with Gifts

Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child. Ideas include small toys, school supplies, hygiene items, hard candy, ball caps, hair clips, etc. You even can include a personal note to the child receiving the box.

4. Include Your Donation

Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using the “Follow Your Box Donation” option or you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box.

5. Drop Off

Place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop off at the collection center nearest you during our collection week, Nov. 14-21.

For locations and hours of collection, visit SamaritansPurse.org. There you can find the nearest place to take your shoe box by entering your ZIP code or you can call 1.800.353.5949.

Lenexa mom Margaret Sarver enjoys packing shoe boxes with her daughters each November.