DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / September 6, 2000

LAPLACE – Children who may never have heard of Christmas, or those who certainly aren’t accustomed to receiving gifts for the holidays, will be receiving a surprise this December.

Shoeboxes filled with toy and goodies are being collected at St. TimothyEpiscopal Church and LaPlace Health Center to be delivered to the children of war and poverty stricken countries for the Christmas holiday.

The program, Operation Christmas Child, was begun by Franklin Graham, chairman of Samaritan’s Purse, in 1993. That year 28,000 shoeboxes weredelivered to children. 1999 saw 3,107,000 boxes put together for charityand delivered to needy children in over 65 countries worldwide.

Dr. Gene Burns saw the Christmas Child program had never been done locally.With help from others, Burns is hoping the River Parishes can increase the amount of shoeboxes hand delivered into the hands of children.

“This is a chance to help out in a big way, especially to those in need,” said Burns. Each box is hand delivered to the children, though Burns won’t have togo that far. He only has to get them to Atlanta, which he will do personally.Instructions for putting together a shoebox present is simple. Choose an agegroup that would best fit the gifts you are giving. Fill the box with items liketoy, school supplies, hygiene items, hard candy, gum, sunglasses, flashlight (with extra batteries), ball caps, watches, anything you can manage. Theboxes should not include breakable items, war-related items, perishables, liquids or medicine.

Importantly, leave $5, preferably a check, inside the shoebox to cover shipping expenses from Atlanta, and deposit the boxes at St. Timothy or theLaPlace Health Center.

The gifts are being collected from now until the first of November, when Burns is taking them to Atlanta.

In support of the ministry of the Graham family, Burns and the others are hoping to help make a difference, now and in the years to come.

Brochures and further instructions for making a shoebox gift are available at the St. Timothy and the LaPlace Health Center.

Return To News Stories