Catha Huff's tradition of promoting and coordinating an Operation Christmas Child box donation at Trinity continued this year as Trinity's third grade class and families from the church community united to pack nearly 150 boxes for the organization. Not only that, but Huff had the opportunity to visit the Operation Christmas Child's Aurora, Ill. processing plant to witness the process of shipping the boxes to their final destinations.
Trinity's boxes were combined with those from Crosspointe Christian Church, Mrs. Huff's church, to contribute nearly 500 boxes to children around the world. Samaritan's Purse, the organization that run's Operation Christmas Child, has collected shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies, hygiene items and even clothes to districture to children in need. The pre-packed boxes then receive information about Jesus and the good news of the gospel before they are sent around the world. Since 1993, more than 220 million children in over 170 countries have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. For some of the recipients, it's the first gift they've ever received.
Trinity's third grade class promotes the project to the entire school and solicites others to participate. Led by the third grade, the school also donates the weekly chapel offerings to the cause to help purchase plastic boxes and pay for shipping. The class also utilizes a Thrivent Action Team to make the necessary purchases as well. Once the third graders packed up the contents, they prayed over the boxes in small group, asking God to bless those who receive them.
Huff has contributed to Operation Christmas Child for many years and has gotten each of her classes to participate as well. This year, besides packing and taking the boxes to the local collection site, she was also able to visit the Aurora Processing Plant.
"I have always wanted to be part of this step and God used my friend Lisa Rance to share the opportunity with me. We filled 100 cartons with 16 boxes each, praising God for each box and life that will be touched with the Good News of Jesus," said Huff, who worked on cartons shipped to Malawi and Belize.
Huff recently learned that Trinity's boxes, along with those from Crosspointe, are being distributed in the countries of Georgia, Jamaica and Malawi.