To the editor
Thanks to the generosity of our neighbors in the Greater Rochester area, many children around the world have something to smile about. Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project, collected 9,075 gift-filled shoe boxes from local residents during last year’s collection season. These gifts are now on their way to hurting children around the world.
With the donations of shoe box gifts from churches, individuals, businesses, and community groups, Operation Christmas Child will be able to hand-deliver some 7.6 million gifts to children in more than 100 countries. On behalf of Operation Christmas Child, I would like to thank local collection sites for providing locations for collecting the gifts and all the volunteers who served with this amazing project for children.
To everyone in the Greater Rochester area who packed a shoe box gift, please be encouraged by the fact that these simple gifts will serve as powerful messages of joy and hope to needy children around the world. Thank you for joining your community in this amazing outreach, and for giving to others at Christmas.
Though the Rochester drop-off locations are closed until November 2007, it is not too late to send gifts to children overseas. Gifts are received year-round at Samaritan’s Purse, 801 Bamboo Road, Boone, N.C., 28607. For information on packing a shoe box, go online to www.samaritanspurse.org or call 1-800-353-5949.
Thanks again to everyone who participated in the project. We look forward to seeing you next year!
Dana Stark
Operation Christmas Child
Director, Northeast Region
