Members of the Eta Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa invites persons of the Coffeyville community to partner with them in a special holiday focused service project, of Samaritan’s Purse, one of the first responders to the Coffeyville flood of 2007.  Operation Christmas Child is a simple idea that became a worldwide outreach with the objective of ministering to children in war-torn and famine-stricken countries.  In just the last two decades, the project has inspired everyday people to provide more than 100 million gift-filled shoeboxes to needy children in 130 countries.

Operation Christmas Child began in the summer of 1993 when a man in England wanted to help children in Bosnia who had been left homeless, injured and hopeless.  He contacted Franklin Graham at Samaritan’s Purse asking for help with a simple idea, gift-filled shoeboxes to let the children know that someone cared.  The first OCC yielded twenty-eight thousand shoeboxes in the United States and Canada within a two-week period.  The 2014 the goal from South Central Kansas is 23,266 shoebox gifts while the Eta Gamma goal is 300 boxes.  The national collection goal is the second week in November while the college students are asking that the boxes from their service partners be delivered to the chapter the first week in November.  From the Phi Theta Kappa Office, the boxes will be taken to the Independence collection site and from there to the Wichita collection point and finally to Denver and the international processing center.  Eta Gamma members will spend two days of their Thanksgiving Vacation inspecting boxes at the Denver site.  After inspection, the boxes will begin their journey world-wide.

Each box has an attached label that designates boy or girl and age category; 2-4, 5-9, 10-14.  The girls’ 5-9 category typically receives the most shoeboxes so persons are encouraged to consider preparing a shoebox for the older boys.  When donors use the online Follow Your Box shipping donation, one can learn the country where it was delivered, information about Operation Christmas Child in that country, and stories and photos about children in that country.  The shoeboxes are delivered to the children via planes and boats, camels and elephants, helicopters and covered wagons, and dog sleds.

Appropriate items for the shoeboxes include:  toothbrush and toothpaste, package of Kleenex, comb, bar of soap wrapped in a washcloth, sharpened pencils, colored pencils and crayons, pencil sharpener, markers, erasers, solar calculators, writing pads or paper, reading and coloring books, jump rope, stuffed animals, toy cars, harmonics, yo-yos, dolls, balls, sunglasses, flashlight with extra batteries, playing cards such as Old Maid, hair clips and bows, necklace and bracelet, T-shirt or blouse, socks and underwear, ball caps, and flip flops.  Double bagged hard candy, a picture of your family, and a letter telling about you and your interests, family, school, pets and friends can also be included.

Do not send items include used or damaged items, food, chocolate including tootsie rolls, glass or breakables, military figures, toy guns and knives as well as toy snakes.  Liquid, medicines and vitamins as well as aerosol cans are also on the “no send” list.

Those persons wishing to adopt one of the colorful Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes can contact the Eta Gamma Chapter at 620-251-7700 ext. 2076.  Arrangements can be made to deliver and pick up the box.  The chapter would greatly appreciate your partnership with them in promoting this worthwhile project.