Locals can donate Christmas gifts to kids around the world this week

On Monday, people swung by New Covenant Community Church to drop off shoe boxes filled with gifts.

“It’s just a real simple and easy way to give some holiday cheer to somebody else and to think of somebody besides your own family,” said donor Vicki Polk.

The church is just one of four locations in Lincoln taking part in Operation Christmas Child.  Hosted by humanitarian aid organization Samaritan’s Purse, its goal is to collect small gifts for children in impoverished, war–torn countries around the world and bring a little joy into their lives.

“These gifts are packed with hygiene items, schools supplies, small toys, clothing,” said southeast Nebraska area coordinator Sue Thomsen.  “Most of these kiddos, they’ve never received a Christmas gift or a birthday gift, any kind of gift.”

Thomsen said their goal is to collect more than 15,000 shoe boxes from southeast Nebraska, with half of those coming from Lincoln.

She said she’s heard a story from one child in the Philippines who received such a gift.

“She said one of the most impactful things in her shoe box was the bar of soap because she grew up next to a dump and her world was dirty and smelly,” Thomsen said.  “And she said that Irish Spring scent will forever impact her mind because it was fresh and clean.”

And donors said they get something out of it too.

“You feel like, you know, it kind of warms your own heart and feels like you’re doing something a little special to give back to somebody else,” Polk said.

This drive will be going through next Monday, so you still have time to contribute if you want to.

To help find locations taking shoe box donations, visit: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/drop-off-locations/?utm_source=OCC-Press-Release-Coordinator-Multiple-Drop-Off-Opening&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=Drop-Off-Locations-Release