For years, the residents of Princeton have actively participated in the Samaritan’s Purse project, Operation Christmas Child, an initiative that aims to assist millions of underprivileged children by providing them with shoeboxes filled with gifts.
Marketing and Media Relations Associate, Delores Brown with Samaritan’s Purse says Analyn Elliott, who was once a young girl in the Philippines, received one of these life-changing gifts from Operation Christmas Child. Elliott is visiting Princeton and will be sharing her story Friday of how this simple gift had a life-changing impact.
She says Elliott will be sharing her story with local groups and churches to encourage residents as they kick off the upcoming collection season to fill more than shoeboxes with fun toys, school supplies and personal care items — contributing to the global goal of reaching 11 million children in Jesus’ name.
According to Brown, what Elliott remembers most about receiving an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift is the joy she felt when she realized it was hers. She says Elliott tried not to compare what she had or didn’t have with her classmates, but it was hard not to wish for something to call her own. When Elliott received a shoebox — her first gift — Brown says she was filled with immense joy.
Elliott will be sharing her story at noon Friday at Princeton First Baptist Church at 300 West Main Street.
During Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week November 13 – 20, Brown says Princeton residents can bring gift-filled shoeboxes to multiple locations across the area to be announced in late October.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has reportedly collected and delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories. This year, according to Brown, Operation Christmas Child will celebrate its 30th year of ministry.
