SIDNEY, Neb. — Sidney residents are looking beyond their own back-to-school checklists to collect supplies for children in need.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 198 million gift-filled shoe boxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories. This year, Operation Christmas Child will collect its 200-millionth gift-filled shoebox.

As the new school year approaches, Sidney volunteer Cheryl MacKenzie is making use of back-to-school prices to purchase gifts and essential items for children in need around the world. MacKenzie is collecting school supplies, along with hygiene items and fun toys, to pack in shoeboxes. 

“We take so many of these items for granted,” said MacKenzie. 

Mackenzie has participated in and volunteered with the project for many years. 

“Shopping for school supplies for children in need is one way I can teach my grandkids and great-grandson about the importance of giving to others,"  MacKenzie said.

Analyn is one of many children who received a shoebox. Analyn is a middle child from a family of seven who lived in a one-bedroom bamboo home in the Philippines. 

Analyn said she received an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox gift and she remembers the joy she experienced when she realized it was hers.

Analyn's father drove a taxi cycle, and her mother washed laundry for others as a means of income. Analyn said they struggled to make ends meet. 

Analyn said she tried not to think about what they didn’t have, though it was hard during birthdays and Christmas time when her family couldn’t afford gifts.

Analyn said she wished she could have school supplies like her classmates. Analyn said she loved to draw but thought she’d never be able to have a new set of crayons or colored pencils.

When Analyn received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift, she said it was the first gift she had ever received. Analyn said she found a crayon box, colored pencils, and a notebook.

“I cannot believe I have my own full box of crayons in my hand,” Analyn recalled saying.

She said she spent hours drawing in her notebook.

National Collection week is Nov 14th to the 21st. For more information, call 816-622-8316 or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. 

Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement. Boxes built online go to hard-to-reach countries.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 198 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.  This year, Operation Christmas Child will collect its 200-millionth gift-filled shoebox!