Every Christmas children in the United States wake-up and run downstairs screaming "It's Christmas! It's Christmas! Santa came!" as they tear open package after package. But what would happen if there was nothing to open up? What would happen if there simply wasn't a Christmas? Those smiling faces would soon turn to sad faces filled with tears and disappointment. For many children, that's exactly what their Christmas would look like, if it weren't for Operation Christmas Child.

A shoe box from Operation Christmas Child, a program run by Samaritan's Purse not only changes the lives of young children around the world, but it changes the lives of the adults organizing the program and putting the packages together as well.

"Samaritan's Purse sent a video to our school about their shoebox program and I broke down into tears," says Elizabeth Mills, an office assistant in Miami, Florida. Seeing the joy on the faces of those children as they opened their shoe box packages was enough to convince her to continue the process every year. "It is such a simple way to reach out to not just a child, but an entire family with the generosity of God's love through a few simple items packed within a shoe box," adds Elizabeth.

Through Samaritan's Purse, parents can teach their children what it means to give to someone who is less fortunate—even if the family is struggling financially itself. "It makes a real difference in a child's life: both the child sending the shoebox and the child receiving the shoebox. We are changed by the act of giving, just as they are changed by the act of receiving," says Marsha Melkonian of Warrenton, Virginia.

Elaina Avalos, a full-time nanny organized a shoe box program in her church because she believed it was a "tangible way" to show Christ's love to children worldwide. But soon found her Sunday school children learning valuable lessons of the heart. "Our older children (middle school age) were struck at how simple things like a toothbrush caused much excitement when the boxes were opened," says Elaina. "It helped them to appreciate so much more the life they have."

"I believe it's important to show children how to have compassion for others," says Rhea Palmer, a freelance writer. "My son learns that there are other children out there that are needy and don't have the privileges we have," she continues.

It's never too early to start shopping for Operation Christmas Child, so the next time you're out shopping and see a clearance aisle, take a moment to see if anything on those shelves could be purchased for a child in need. Things like non-violent toys, non-battery operated toys, playing cards, learning cards, small children's books, school supplies, bar soaps, toothbrushes, tooth paste, and wrapped hard candies.

It really is an effortless program to be involved in: find an empty shoe box, go to your local department (or dollar) store, buy "approved' items, go home, fill the shoe box, insert a $5 check to cover shipping, and send the unwrapped shoe box to the nearest program sponsor. What could be easier?

If you'd like to reach out and be a part of this amazing program, visit Samaritan's Purse at http://www.samaritanspurse.org.

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