Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, delivers gift-filled shoeboxes to millions of children in need each year. For 21 years, Centennial families have packed shoebox gifts for boys and girls around the world. One of these gifts reached Anabel Rosario Fermin in the Dominican Republic when she was a young girl. Rosario Fermin is now visiting southwest Denver area residents to share how the simple gift had a life-changing impact.
Rosario Fermin will be telling her story to local groups and churches. She wants to encourage residents as they kick off the upcoming collection season to fill more than 14,500 shoeboxes with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items—contributing to the global goal of reaching 11 million children in Jesus’ Name.
The community is invited to hear her first-hand account on Sat., Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. at Waterstone Community Church, 5890 S. Alkire St., Littleton, CO during an Open House and on Sun., Oct. 2 at 9 a.m. at Crow Hill Bible Church, 75 Bull Dogger Dr., Bailey, CO to celebrate a 10+ year partnership with Operation Christmas Child.
Rosario Fermin grew up in the Dominican Republic. Her family never had material abundance. When she received her shoebox gift, the stuffed animals, school supplies, and other needed items found inside showed her that God is faithful even when it doesn’t feel that way.
During Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week Nov. 14 – 21, Centennial residents can bring gift-filled shoeboxes to multiple drop-off locations across Denver to be announced in late October.
For more information, call 303-745-9179 , 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 170 countries and territories. This year, Operation Christmas Child will collect its 200-millionth shoebox!