Operation Christmas Child send kids things they need and want

Marlee Johnson painstakingly packed 10 shoe boxes, cramming in crayons and paper, toothbrushes and soap, toys and candy until the lids could barely close.

Then she penned notes to boys and girls whom she knew nothing about, not even what countries they lived in.

It’s all in the name of Christmas, or Jesus Christ, or generosity, depending on whom you ask.

“Just by packing one shoe box, you can change the life of a child, a family, a community,” said Johnson, an 18-year-old Tacoma woman.

Operation Christmas Child is a nonprofit project that aims to send packages to children plagued by war, natural disasters and extreme poverty.

It’s been part of Johnson’s life since she was 5 and is a holiday tradition in her family.

Local volunteers hope more helpers donate this year than ever before to brighten the lives of kids in 100 countries.

Tacoma residents are expected to produce 6,000 boxes this year. The goal for the Northwest region – which includes Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Montana – is 225,000 boxes.

“Every year we’ve reached our goals or gone above,” said regional director Michael Ishmael.

Last year, volunteers donated 199,859 boxes, a 4 percent increase from the previous year.

They are filled with practical items such as school supplies, hygiene items, small toys and hard candy that kids in impoverished countries are grateful to get.

The goal is to deliver the shoe boxes in time for the holidays, but it’s a year-round project, so the gifts keep giving.

Those who put together a box are encouraged to include a handwritten note or even a photograph. Sometimes, the child receiving the box writes back.

This year, for the first time, parent organization Samaritan’s Purse is putting bar codes on the boxes so donors can track them and see which country they end up in.

Johnson has seen recipients’ excitement and gratitude firsthand.

Last year, she submitted an essay and a video and was chosen to go on a mission trip to Uganda to deliver shoe boxes to children. She says it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The kids “were so excited we were there even before they knew about the shoe boxes,” Johnson said. “There was a lot of screaming and excitement.”

She likes to think that this year’s shipment of gifts will elicit the same joy.

Her family hosted a shoe box-packing party Saturday to get in the holiday spirit. Between the five members of the Johnson family, they put together 165 boxes.

“We want to bring a message of hope and a message of love to kids, most of whom never received a gift in their life,” Ishmael said.

Stacia Glenn: 253-597-8653

stacia.glenn@thenewstribune.com

Operation Christmas Child

National Collection Week is today through Nov. 21. Drop-off locations include:

• Praise Covenant Church

3501 S. Orchard St., Tacoma

• Rainier View Christian Church

12305 Spanaway Loop Road S., Tacoma

• Believer’s Fellowship

4112 Hunt St. N.W., Gig Harbor

• Our Savior’s Baptist Church