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O.C.C. works to bring Christmas gifts to all
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Published: November 8, 2009
The holiday season is quickly approaching, and Operation Christmas Child is working to ensure children all over the world have a good holiday season.
Statesville will serve as one of many collection points for people interested in donating Christmas gifts to children through the O.C.C. project.
Participants are asked to fill shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, hard candy, gloves and toiletry items.
Perishable items, war related items and liquids are not permitted, according to spokesperson Molly Giles.
Along with the shoe box, individuals are asked to include $7 for shipping cost.
"It's a relatively cheap way to give back this Christmas," she said.
Giles said participating in O.C.C. is a great way to give back and "impact others across the world."
For many of the children, the boxes will contain the only gifts they will receive, she said.
Operation Christmas Child has been on a mission to give a Christmas to all children since 1993 and has handed out more than 68 million boxes.
Statesville has been serving as a drop off location for 14 years.
According to Giles, Statesville's goal is to collect 4,000 gift-filled shoe boxes this year.
Last year, gifts were sent to 130 countries.
Statesville site coordinator Johnny Hoover has been leading the local site for 12 years.
He said last year, they thought there would be a decrease in those who donated because of the economy, but that wasn't the case.
"Even with the economy we thought it would be a drop in the shoeboxes but it continues to increase every year," he said.
Hoover said he anticipates they will meet their quota of 4,000.
"It seems like the economy is not affecting this," he said.
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