Operation Christmas Child (UK) Exceeds Collection Goal

More than 11 million Children in Need Receive Gift-filled Shoeboxes

News Release from Samaritan’s Purse (UK) – For Immediate Release

BUCKHURST HILL, ESSEX, UK (ANS – March 15, 2016) -- Because of the generosity of our UK supporters, the Operation Christmas Child project of Samaritan’s Purse collected 900,008 shoebox gifts—filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items -- for children in need around the world.

Combined with shoebox gifts collected from partnering countries in 2015, the ministry is now sending more than 11.2 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 100 countries.

Nick Cole, the new UK Director of Operation Christmas Child says: “How inspiring for us all to be part of a project that’s truly about the one and the many. Each child among 900,000 has received a box individually prepared by the OCC UK community, declaring they’re loved by God and by us. And in the UK, we have many ‘star’ volunteers, but actually the project only works because many thousands do their vital bit, together with thousands of others in churches overseas who then reach out to children in their community.

“No stars, but a humble worldwide family who love kids and sharing God’s love with them.”

Every shoebox gift delivered by Operation Christmas Child is a tangible expression of God’s amazing love. But a shoebox is just the beginning. Many children will be offered the chance to take part in “The Greatest Journey” – a set of 12 fun, interactive lessons based on the Bible.

For those that can’t wait until this Christmas to get packing again, why not pack a shoebox through our online campaign – “Shoebox World.” You select the gifts you want to send and then we shop and pack it for you. You can even send a personalized message and upload a photo. For more information, please go to: www.shoeboxworld.org.uk.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and development organization. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected more than 135 million gift-filled shoeboxes for children in more than 150 countries and territories.

In 2015, shoeboxes from the UK were sent to Albania, Belarus, Bosnia, Central Asia, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Macedonia, the Middle East, Romania, Serbia, Swaziland, Ukraine and Zambia. In 2016, Operation Christmas Child hopes to reach another 12 million children.

To learn about year-round volunteer opportunities or to serve with Operation Christmas Child, visit www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/occ 

Operation Christmas Child Facts:

Operation Christmas Child is a global children’s project of Samaritan’s Purse that uses simple gift-filled shoe boxes containing school supplies, toys, necessity items and notes of encouragement to let hurting children know God loves them and they are not forgotten.

In 2012, Operation Christmas Child reached a significant milestone— delivering the 100 millionth gift-filled shoebox since the project began in Wrexham, North Wales, in 1990.

Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts are collected in the UK, United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Finland, Germany, New Zealand and Spain.

About Samaritan’s Purse:

Samaritan’s Purse (UK) is an international relief and development organization that works through local churches to proclaim and demonstrate the love of God amongst communities in need in 18 countries across Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

To find out more about Samaritan’s Purse in the UK, visit www.samaritans-purse.org.uk.

For any media enquiries contact: Peter Wooding, Samaritan's Purse UK Media Officer. Tel: +44 (0) 1244 549167 / +44 (0)7500 903067. E-mail: peter@peterwoodingproductions.com  

Photo captions: 1 ) Happy boys in Belarus. 2) Excited girls. 3) UK volunteers checking boxes.

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