Operation Christmas Child collecting back-to-school supplies

Operation Christmas Child is collecting school supplies with the hopes of helping up to 8 million children in more than 100 countries. The ministry affiliated with Samaritan’s Purse ordinarily gathers small items in shoe boxes to distribute to children as Christmas presents. Extending the outreach to fill boxes with needed school supplies is an immediate need. “I can’t help but think how many children dread going back to school, because their parents can’t afford the school supplies they need.” said Lejla Allison, who received an Operation Christmas Child shoe box as a child in war-torn Bosnia. Now a 27-year-old, married mother of two residing in Williamsburg, Pa., Allison packs shoe box gifts with her family. “Back-to-school sales are the perfect opportunity to fill our shoe box gifts with critical school supplies and show love to a hurting child in need.” Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has distributed shoe box gifts to more than 69 million hurting children in some 130 countries. Link: Operation Christmas Child: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/