Nelson couple working with Operation Christmas Child ministry

In November, Charlene and Virgil Schulz, Superior, took part in the packaging and shipping of more than 600,000 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes at the Denver, Colo., Samaritan's Purse facility. It was an experience they found rewarding and plan to go back to Denver this year to help in the process again.

During the four days the Schulzes worked at the Denver facility, they were fascinated by the efficiency of the center. Virgil said the facility was housed in a 200 x 600-foot building. Inside were 24 stations for inspection and preparation of shoeboxes for distribution. Two shifts of 300 volunteers like the Schulzes, worked each day. Shoeboxes were packed in large containers, prayed over and placed in semi-trucks. The pallets of shoeboxes were sent to children in more than 100 countries.

Charlene was one of eight workers manning a station. She inspected the boxes in her group. She said boxes are stuffed with useful items for the children who receive them. Every hour, all the people preparing the boxes stop what they are doing and pray as a group thateach shoebox will go to a child who is in need of what is in that special box.

Charlene made sure the contents of each box met the criteria set for the boxes. The boxes are separated by gender and three age groups. Then the boxes are packaged for shipping with bar codes placed on each box for tracking them.

Virgil also inspected and prepared boxes for shipping. He said inside the boxes, families and individuals had placed heartfelt notes. While the Shulzes were working at the center, 47 semi-truck loads of shoeboxes left the Denver facility. On the first two days, the trucks went to Native Americans and Mexico. The third day shipments were headed to Africa.

An Operation Shoebox can be a regular shoebox or a red or green box supplied by the Operation Shoe Box organization. A box contains one "Wow" item which might include a stuffed animal, doll, shoes or deflated soccer ball with air pump; crayons, markers, backpack, toothbrush, bar soap, band aides; clothes, craft items; sewing or fishing kits. The ministry suggests a personal note or picture from the people who donated the box is included.

Charlene said few items in the boxes were rejected. Those items were removed from a box, but they were replaced with an acceptable item. Items removed include used or damaged goods' war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food, including candy – because of customs regulations; seeds; liquids or lotions – these can spill and get all over the other items; and medications or vitamins.

Denver is one of eight gathering and distribution facilities in the nation for shoeboxes. Other sites are Baltimore, Md., Boone and Charlotte, N.C., Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Fullerton, Calif., Chicago, Ill., and Georgia.

The Schulzes said this year Operation Christmas Child expects to distribute 2,750,000 shoebox gifts to outreach centers and at-risk places around the world. The mission of Operation Shoebox is one of the largest movements in the world to help a generation of children through gifts of love and to share the hope of Christ. Children may only receive one shoebox during a lifetime, but that one gift has changed the life of many recipients as several success stories have been shared.

Charlene told of one young man and his family who happened to be at an outreach event when boxes were given out. He received a shoebox. He wanted shoes but had not had any. Among the boxed items was a pair of shoes. And the shoes he received fit! That one gift changed his life. Another story was of a girl who received a yellow dress. She was so proud of it she wore it until it did not fit anymore.

The boxes with prayer can give hope to those less fortunate. It also allows people to see how fortunate we are in America and how we sometimes take the simplest things in life for granted.

Charlene and Virgil enjoyed their experience with the distribution of the shoeboxes. They have found volunteering at the Samaritan's Purse distribution center rewarding and a way to help the spiritual mission of Operation Christmas Child Shoebox. Their hope is for others in the community to join them in volunteering to help in Denver in November. Because of notes and pictures within the boxes, several families have connected with the receivers of their special box.

Samaritan's Purse was founded by Bob Pierce. Pierce dedicated himself to finding and supporting other Christians who were caring for the poor and suffering in the distant corners of the world. Franklin Graham became acquainted with Pierce when he accompanied Pierce on some of his missions. After Pierce died, Graham became the president and chairman of the board for Samaritan's Purse. Graham has since led the ministry in following the biblical example of the Good Samaritan across the globe.

One part of Samaritan's Purse is Operation Christmas Child Shoebox. Collection for the shoeboxes takes place during the third week of November. Superior and surrounding communities have contributed to this effort. For the past few years, Superior's Church of Christ has been a collection point for the shoeboxes. Once they are collected at Superior, they are taken to Hastings where they are added to all the shoeboxes brought in from other sites. Then they are placed in pallets and shipped by semi-trucks to the Samaritan's Purse Denver distribution site where they are added to more shoeboxes from all over the Midwest.