Volunteers getting ready to help those in need

Volunteers in Oconto County are getting together to provide supplies to those in need around the world.

The Samaritan’s Purse organization is running the Operation Christmas Child project, where volunteers put together shoe boxes full of hygiene items, school supplies, toys and clothes.

“A lot of kids never owned things like these,” said Elaine Newlin, a volunteer with the Appleton Alliance Church in Appleton. “Kids can’t go to school or do other things that we take for granted.”

Newlin said that this international project began in 1993.

“This originally began as a request to fill shoe boxes for people in Bosnia,” said Newlin.

Churches around the country are currently collecting donations from residents. Packing of these items will begin in November.

Ellen Pritzlaff is one of the local coordinators who is helping to move this project forward. She works with Grace Lutheran Church in Oconto Falls.

She said that the items that are packed are sent all over the world to children and families who are in need.

“We work with countries around the world to distribute these boxes,” said Pritzlaff.

Pritzlaff said that by sending these boxes to those in need, the recipients may come closer to God.

“These children are receiving these gifts because God loves them,” said Pritzlaff. “These also serve as an invitation for gospel outreach.”

Newlin also elaborated on the idea of gospel outreach.

“Children are invited back to the church,” said Newlin.

She also added that children are given the opportunity to partake in a 12-session course where they learn about building a relationship with Jesus.

“Nineteen million children have graduated from this program,” said Newlin. “They are given an Old Testament in their language to keep that relationship with Jesus, as well as teach others.”

The items in these shoe boxes are basic necessities to survive not only in school, but at home.

“Children need these supplies to be able to go to school and also excel when they are at school.” said Pritzlaff.

According to Newlin, volunteers help with this project for a variety of reasons.

“Most of these volunteers come together due to the love of Jesus,” said Newlin. “Volunteers want to share that love with others. They also want to give back to those in need. A lot of people find this fun to do.”

In Oconto Falls, Pritzlaff noted that around 350 boxes come from Grace Lutheran Church while northeast Wisconsin as a whole provides close to 1,000 boxes.

She believes that taking part in this project not only affects the children and families that are receiving the supplies, but also the volunteers who are taking their time to make the difference.

“This is a humanitarian offering,” said Pritzlaff. “It affects everyone involved.”

Pritzlaff also said that anyone is welcome to partake in the project, no matter what religion they practice.

Newlin added that since the project started, 188 million shoe boxes have been sent around the world. When families and children receive their shoe boxes, she said that it is not uncommon to hear back from the children.

“Some volunteers do get letters back from children,” said Newlin. “The letters that they get back are both heartbreaking and heartwarming.”

Packing week for the shoe boxes takes place from Nov. 15-22. Donations can be dropped off anytime at Grace Lutheran Church, 501 S. Main St., Oconto Falls. Donations can also be made online at samaritanspurse.com/buildonline. Participants in the project also have the opportunity to follow where their box goes through the website.

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com