Operation Christmas Child ready to fill hearts, shoeboxes

Published 4:00 am Sunday, November 4, 2007

“When you send a shoebox, you’re touching a life.”

That’s what Leila Chiaravalle believes and is what motivates her to participate in Operation Christmas Child.

Each year, hundreds of local residents like Chiaravalle fill a shoebox with small toys, candy, school supplies and other trinkets to send to children in extreme poverty throughout the world.

Last year, the local group collected and sent nearly 4,500 boxes to children.

When Chiaravalle, who helps coordinate the local effort, saw all of the shoeboxes from last year’s effort, she felt overwhelmed.

“I felt great, humbled. I literally got choked up,” said Chiaravalle.

Chiaravalle says the goal is to send these children a message of hope. The children are located in villages, cities and rural areas in foreign countries from Ukraine to Brazil.

Operation Christmas Child is affiliated with Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian-based organization. Many local churches are involved in the effort, but people need not subscribe to any religion in order to participate.

“We love to see people who just want to give and bless a child,” said Chiaravalle.

This year’s collection will take place Nov. 12-19. Each community member who wants to participate should select an age group, either ages 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14. Chiaravalle says that they always need extra boxes for the oldest age group. People can make a box for a boy or a girl.

The content requirements are fairly specific. Shoeboxes cannot contain the following: liquids, war-related toys, weapons, chocolate or candy that can melt. Community members are encouraged to pack the following items into a box: hard candy, gum, a toothbrush, toys, clothing, school supplies, soap, a washcloth, a letter and a photo (letter should not contain a person’s home address or phone number).

“It’s a really simple and fun way to put a smile on a child’s face,” said Chiaravalle.

Operation Christmas Child

Drop-off locations

Several Central Oregon churches will be accepting shoeboxes filled with special items Nov. 12-19. See a detailed listing of the churches and their locations on Page D9.

Community members can drop off shoeboxes at the following locations:

• New Hope Church, 20080 S.W. Pinebrook Road, Bend; noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 12-14, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 15-16, 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 17-18 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 19. Contact: Chiaravalle at 350-7905.

• Sisters Community Church, 15220 McKenzie Highway; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 12-16 and 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 17-18. Contact: JamiLyn Weber at 549-4706.

• Word of Victory Church, 645 S.E. Salmon Ave., Redmond; 3:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 12 and 15, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 13 and 16, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 14, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 17 and 2 to 7 p.m. Nov. 18. Contact: Diana Eells at 548-6761.

• Weaver residence, 649 S.W. Rudy St., Madras; noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 12, 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 13, 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 14, 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 15, noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 17 and 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 18. Contact Katherine Weaver at 475-3086.

• Eastside Church, 3174 N.E. Third St., Prineville; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 12-17 and noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 18. Contact Dena Duhn at 416-8955.

For more information about the program, visit the Web site www.samaritanspurse.org.