Last Sunday, St Nicholas Church in Dersingham launched its Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal for 2023, calling on locals to participate. The appeal was officially launched during morning services by organiser, Alan Crawshaw, who gave a demonstration on how to pack a shoebox and explained what items can and cannot be used. The church has been involved in the Shoebox Appeal for over 10 years, with members of the congregation, families, and older people all contributing, along with the Dersingham Guides and Rainbows. The church promotes the appeal through various channels, including their magazine, the local Post Office, the Co-op, and a local shoe shop that provides empty shoeboxes.
Operation Christmas Child (OCC), the organization behind the Shoebox Appeal, has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts to children worldwide for three decades. These shoeboxes are filled with school supplies, hygiene items, and toys. Since its inception in 1990, OCC has collected and delivered over 200 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories. Last year alone, Samaritan’s Purse UK, the parent organization of OCC, gifted 252,000 shoeboxes to needy children around the world. Alan Crawshaw emphasizes the value of participating in the Shoebox Appeal, stating that it is a way to share God’s love with children in need. He also mentions that he personally enjoys buying the items for the shoeboxes and sometimes even receives money from people who are unable to shop for the items themselves.
For those interested in participating in the Shoebox Appeal, boxes and leaflets are available at the back of St Nicholas Church in Dersingham. Completed shoeboxes can be dropped off at Thornalleys Undertakers in Dersingham by Sunday, November 19. More information about the appeal can be found on the St Nicholas Church website.
In conclusion, St Nicholas Church in Dersingham has launched its annual Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal, encouraging locals to get involved in providing gifts for children in need. The church has been participating in the appeal for over a decade, with various members of the community contributing to the cause. Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts to children around the world for 30 years, and last year alone, over 250,000 shoeboxes were gifted to children in need. The appeal provides an opportunity for individuals to share their love and make a difference in the lives of children by providing essential items and toys.
