As we decorate our homes and wrap gifts for loved ones in preparation for the holiday season, there are children worldwide who won’t find presents under their trees or stockings filled with treats and trinkets. We at the Science of Water believe that all kids should experience holidays filled with toys, laughter, and love. So, we’ve teamed up with nondenominational evangelical Christian-based non-profit Samaritan’s Purse to bring gifts and joy to children in countries like Kenya, Peru, Bulgaria, the Philippines through Operation Christmas Child.
We’re so honored to be a part of something so wonderfully life-altering. In case you’re curious about the organization, here’s a bit of background.
History
Samaritan’s Purse takes its name from the biblical story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), which demonstrates God’s desire for us to help those in desperate need wherever we find them. And for more than 40 years, the organization has strived to uphold those beliefs, helping the world’s poor, sick, and suffering through resources like food, medicine, and other assistance. They’re also involved in many ministry projects, including U.S. Disaster Relief, feeding and nutrition programs, animals and agriculture, World Medical Mission, and Operation Christmas Child.
The goal of Operation Christmas Child is to provide God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, in partnership with local churches, spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The life-changing organization began in the U.S. in 1990, and three years later, in 1993, the Wales-based shoebox gift project merged with Samaritan’s Purse and served 28,000 children its first year. Since then, it has provided shoeboxes for more than 178 million children in more than 150 countries.
In 2019 alone, more than 10.5 million boxes were collected throughout Australia, Finland, Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the U.S. We’re excited to see just how many lives we can touch this year!
How it Works
Operation Christmas Child’s process, from start to receiving, takes approximately two months to complete. But boy, does it run like a well-oiled machine! Here is a timeline of how the process works:
The Science of Water: Our Contribution
Naturally, after witnessing the many lives Operation Christmas Child has touched, we wanted to contribute. The Science of Water is dedicated to helping others. Although our calling is in providing clean, contaminant-free water for those in the Gainesville and Jacksonville, Florida areas, we’re excited at the opportunity to help on a global scale.
To contribute to spreading good cheer and the Good News in what has undoubtedly been a challenging year, we’ve got a goal of our own: to build 20 shoeboxes to send off to children. Through our link, you can build and customize your shoebox online or request a box be made for you. You’ll even receive a tracking number so you can follow your box on its journey to the arms of a child.
We’re already at seven boxes, and we would love your help meeting our goal. We can’t wait to see what countries our boxes get sent to! To donate or create your own shoebox, see here. But hurry! Only a few days remain to send a box out in time for Christmas.