Archive for the ‘Operation Christmas Child’ Category

Sheri Wood and Ted Foreman on KSTP TV

From Liberia to Eagan

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Ryan Longwell on KTIS

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>Portions of KTIS Broadcast

Ronald McDonald House kids packed Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts along side the MN Vikings Players at the Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis on Tuesday, Nov. 17. Ted Foreman, a full-circle AND SPY student, assisted in packing hope and joy.

When asked about this very special service project, Persis Elkins, Director of Family Services for Ronald McDonald House of the Twin Cities responded, “It truly is something special to have kids helping other kids. The children here at the Ronald McDonald House have an acute understanding of what it means to go through difficult times. Who else could put more love into this project than them?”

The Minnesota Vikings are Tyrell Johnson, Artis Hicks, Garret Mills, Colt Anderson, Jon Cooper and Kenny Onatolu.

Minnesota Vikings with the Ronald McDonald Kids

Minnesota Vikings with the Volunteers

Minnesota Viking with Operation Christmas Child Members

Minnesota Viking - Jon Cooper

Minnesota Viking - Artis Hicks

Minnesota Viking - Tyrell Johnson

Minnesota Viking - Kenny Onatolu

Minnesota Viking - Jon Cooper

Minnesota Viking - Colt Anderson

Minnesota Viking - Artis Hicks

Minnesota Viking - Garrett Mills

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‘ >Ryan Longwell

Friday, November 13, 2009 at 1:13pm
Amanda Sexson cannot remember a time when she did not fill Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Gifts. “For as long as I can remember, I filled boxes with my family,” Amanda said.

“Operation Christmas Child is a kids-helping-kids project,” said Sheri Wood, Twin Cities Coordinator for Operation Christmas Child. “Amanda exemplifies that phrase. I am so proud of her determination to make a difference and her ability to mobilize her community to help impact the lives of suffering children around the world.”

In 2008, Amanda decided to raise money so she could fill more shoe box gifts. She was able to raise about $300. In 2009, she enlisted the help of her friends and neighbors. A weekly yard sale with hand-crafted and home-baked items by friends, neighbors and family from bird houses, hand-knit scarves, cross-stitched ornaments, hand-crafted stationary garnered $1900 for shoe box supplies.

The young entrepreneur blanketed the neighborhood with emails and 400 flyers announcing her sales. She and friends would stay up until 1 or 2 in the morning baking cookies before a sale day. Free water and cookies was a huge marketing success to get runners and bicyclists to stop. Once they stopped for the refreshments, Amanda and her friends were happy to explain about the proceeds going for needy children around the world. And to help close the sale, Amanda offered lay-away to the runners and bicyclists and had 100% of the people return to pick up their items.

The proceeds were judiciously spent. “I kept my eye on the newspaper (for sales),” said Amanda. The savvy bargain-hunter was able to “get all the good deals” on school supplies, soap and wash cloths, toys, and hair items.

Fitness Focus in Mahtomedi hosted the packing party on Nov. 12th where Amanda and her friends packed the items they worked for and purchased. Last year, Fitness Focus packed 250 boxes but doubled that amount this year. Families and kids from Stillwater and Lake Elmo participated including Rockpoint’s Youth Group.

Published: Thursday, November 12, 2009 1:49 PM CST
For Marita Metcalf, packing shoebox gifts to help hurting children around the world was already a holiday tradition, but she wanted to do more.

Metcalf wanted to motivate others to pack shoe box gifts and help collect them to send to some 8 million children in more than 100 countries. It’s a goal that requires the generosity of local volunteers.

Metcalf is the drop-off site coordinator at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church for Operation Christmas Child – a volunteer role that involves developing and leading a local leadership team. Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, uses gifts to share hope with suffering children overseas – some of whom will go to children who have never received a Christmas present.

“These are children who have seen and felt suffering more than a child should ever experience,” said Metcalf. “The shoe box gifts show them that people care. It doesn’t take a lot of time to send hope to a hurting child.”

You can:

Pack a shoebox gift – Fill shoeboxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items, candy and a letter of encouragement. Step-by-step shoebox packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org.

Collection and relay sites – Operation Christmas Child will be collecting gift-filled shoeboxes at more than 2,400 drop-off sites nationwide.

Spread the word – Help enlist families, churches, scout troops, community groups and businesses to take part in creating shoebox gifts.

Processing centers -Volunteers at these large centers inspect shoebox gifts received from collection sites and prepare them for shipment to needy children on six continents.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, has hand-delivered more than 68 million gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children in some 130 countries.

Our Savior’s Lutheran, at 1616 W. Olive St. in Stillwater, will collect shoebox gifts from Nov. 16-23. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6-8p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to noon Saturday; 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Sunday; and 9 a.m. to noon Monday.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 612-359-7025 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org.