Viola FBLA students and parents came together on November 18, 2024, for a heartwarming cause, hosting a packing party for Operation Christmas Child. With a goal of filling 30 shoeboxes for children overseas, the group not only met the challenge but made this third annual effort their most successful yet. Donations poured in, and the community’s teamwork turned an ordinary event into an extraordinary act of giving.
The Samaritan's Purse project Operation Christmas Child collects shoebox gifts filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items—and delivers them to children in need around the world to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way. For many of these children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, has collected and delivered more than 220 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 170 countries and territories. Anyone can pack a shoebox. Individuals, families, churches and groups fill empty shoeboxes with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys, such as dolls or soccer balls.
During National Collection Week (Nov. 18–25, 2024), Samaritan’s Purse will collect the gift-filled shoeboxes at over 4,700 drop-off locations in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
As Viola FBLA sets its sights on an ambitious goal of 45 shoeboxes for next year's Operation Christmas Child, they invite the community to start thinking about how they can contribute. Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word, every effort helps bring joy to children in need. Together, we can make next year’s project even more impactful.