Since 1993, the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child (OCC) has sent gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 220 million boys and girls in more than 170 countries and territories around the world. Last year, at least 5,000 such shoeboxes came from the Olympic Peninsula alone.

Susan Hedding and Paul Muncey are Operation Christmas Child’s area coordinators for the Olympic Peninsula, and they recalled how the OCC’s annual collections originally grouped together the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas, more than 20 years ago, before their combined collection totals grew so great that Olympic Peninsula had to be spun off into its own collection area a few years ago.

“The last combined year of Olympic and Kitsap Peninsula collections, we filled three 18-wheeler trucks with more than 12,000 shoeboxes,” said Hedding, who explained that Samaritan’s Purse works with local churches and ministry partners to deliver the shoebox gifts as part of their religious ministry.

Indeed, Hedding and Muncey see such charitable giving as a keystone of their Christian faith, which is why the husband-and-wife team traveled to Quito, Ecuador, in June of this year, to help distribute Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to more than 400 children.

“It’s about more than just giving simple gifts,” Hedding said. “Many of the children who receive our shoeboxes have never been given any gifts before. After the shoeboxes are shipped to these countries, they’ll make the final leg of their journeys to the churches we partner with, riding on everything from motorcycles to mules, camels and even elephants.”

Hedding recalled this summer’s distribution in Quito, as children in need were invited to a huge party at the local church, where they were led in singalong songs and presented with short little skits, imparting positive moral values.

“We even gave them little story booklets, and while many of them are too young to read yet, the booklets still tell stories through their pictures,” Hedding said. “So many people put their hearts into this work, so that those children can feel Jesus’ love. A lot of work goes into both sides of the shoebox.”

Samaritan’s Purse has instructions on how to pack your own gift shoebox at samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box online, and the San Juan Baptist Church at 1704 Discovery Road in Port Townsend is collecting those shoeboxes for eight days, from 1-3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18, and Tuesday, Nov. 19, then again from Thursday, Nov. 21, through Sunday, Nov. 24.

The church is also accepting Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20, and from 9-11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 25.

Hedding noted this project began by sending thousands of shoeboxes of gifts to needy children per year three decades ago, and now sends millions each year.

“Each individual gift is a blessing that you can give to a child you’ve never met,” Hedding said. “Items as simple as a comb or a washcloth can be life-changing for these children. Imagine having to share a toothbrush at that age. The difference these gifts make is beautiful.”