{"id":69150,"date":"2016-10-24T15:25:51","date_gmt":"2016-10-24T19:25:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samaritanspurse.org\/?p=69150"},"modified":"2017-04-18T09:16:24","modified_gmt":"2017-04-18T13:16:24","slug":"this-week-u-s-residents-take-part-in-making-christmas-a-reality-for-12-million-children-in-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samaritanspurse.org\/es\/operation-christmas-child\/this-week-u-s-residents-take-part-in-making-christmas-a-reality-for-12-million-children-in-need\/","title":{"rendered":"This Week: U.S. Residents Take Part In Making Christmas A Reality for 12 Million Children In Need"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nov. 14 \u2013 21: National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts<\/em><\/h4>\r\n
\r\n\r\n

BOONE, N.C., Nov. 14, 2016<\/strong> \u2014 Tens of thousands of U.S. residents are on a mission to make a lasting impact on children in need. They are looking beyond their own wish lists and packing shoeboxes for boys and girls around the world\u2014for many of the children, it will be the first gift they have ever received.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Nov. 14 \u2013 21, caring people around the country will transform 9.5 million empty shoeboxes into gifts of hope filled with\u00a0school supplies, hygiene items, notes of encouragement and fun toys, such as a doll or soccer ball. Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan\u2019s Purse, will deliver these shoebox gifts to children overseas living in extreme poverty or affected by war, disease and natural disaster.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\u201cA global movement begins this week across the US and seven other sending countries, millions are focused on making a difference in the lives of children facing difficult circumstances,\u201d said Operation Christmas Child Domestic Director Randy Riddle. \u201cWhat a joy to be a part of something bigger than ourselves like Operation Christmas Child. Giving such simple gifts like those found in shoeboxes mean the world to the neediest children and it\u2019s something we can all do. \r\n\u201d<\/em><\/p> \r\n\r\n

More than 150,000 volunteers including families, churches and other groups are linking arms across the country to contribute to the largest Christmas project of its kind. In 2016, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach 12 million children, with 9.5 million coming from the United States.<\/p>\r\n\r\n