CHARLOTTE, NC — Celebrating the 200 millionth shoebox gift collected since 1993, Franklin Graham encouraged staff and volunteers at the Charlotte Processing Center this Christmas. These shoeboxes represent opportunities to tell boys and girls about the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Greatest Gift.

Franklin Graham – Samaritan’s Purse CEO and President:

29 years ago right here in Charlotte the very first Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes were packed. Those boxes went to Europe. This year the 200 millionth shoebox is going to Ukraine.

Edward Graham – Samaritan’s Purse Vice President of Operations:

At Operation Christmas Child we celebrate this small gift. Something as small as a shoebox because God uses it to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ so we can’t do it without the volunteers that are processing the shoeboxes behind me.

Charles Dunevant – Volunteer:

I’m so excited to be here and the love in these shoeboxes. I love to see the energy level and work coming from people in my church.

Terese Minerick – Volunteer:

This is such an amazing time. We’re so happy to be here. I’m looking forward to doing this again and again.

Nicole Crouch – Volunteer:

I’m here to help those in need and I love helping people. It’s been a blast so far.

Franklin:

I want to thank all of you who come here and volunteer who work here. We couldn’t do this project without you. We never dreamed to have an army of Christian men and women who come at Christmas to make this program happen.

Elizabeth Groff – Operation Christmas Child:

We just actually put the yellow yo yo in the box. When I received my yo yo 18 years ago it was the beginning of hope in my life and now being able to share the same hope and love of Jesus with this little girl, it’s just incredible.

Franklin:

What an opportunity in Charlotte, North Carolina to be able to touch children around the world.

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Through this project, Samaritan’s Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations.

CONTACT: Kaitlyn Lahm, news@samaritan.org

Read more news on Non Profit / Faith Based Organizations, and Christmas Gift Catalog.