Shoeboxes full of Christmas gifts are making their way to Ecuador, Peru, Panama and beyond, bringing smiles to children who may never have received a gift before.
“For many of these children, this may be the first, and possibly only, gift they’ve ever received because we focus on areas with the greatest need,” said Becky Crouch, the church relations coordinator for the Huntington Area Team of Operation Christmas Child.
This is the second year Marshall has partnered with the organization through campus ministry groups, including the Christian Crusade for Christ, to gather and fill the shoeboxes.
The boxes are filled with school supplies, personal care items such as toothbrushes and hairbrushes, and fun toys.
Each box also includes a “wow” item, a larger gift meant to be the most impressive, like a soccer ball or a stuffed animal.
“I’ve heard children cry out of joy because they received something as simple as a toothbrush and didn’t have to share it with their family anymore,” Crouch said. “For most of us, it’s hard to imagine what that experience is like.”
Student-led organizations on campus, such as Cru, helped raise funds to purchase new items for the shoeboxes and help fill them Friday, Nov. 7.
“I believe Marshall students have a servant’s heart, and this is one way they can share that spirit,” Crouch said.
While it’s the organization’s second year with Marshall, Operation Christmas Child has been hosting the event and giving back for decades.
“For over 30 years, we’ve been doing this,” Crouch said. “Now we have testimonies from children who received boxes 25 or 30 years ago. They’re adults today, and many of them still carry a comb or the letter that was in their box. It’s incredible to see how these gifts have made a lasting impact on their lives.”
Marshall students have also reflected on the personal impact of packing the shoeboxes.
“We write notes to include in their boxes, so the children know who the gift is from,” said Adrian Payton, sophomore biological science major. “We hope to plant a seed and share the gospel with them.”
Crouch shared a story from last year when a student unexpectedly connected with a child who had received a shoebox.
“One of the Cru students went on a mission trip, and while she was there, she met a family,” Crouch said. “During their conversation, the child excitedly showed her a Bible that Operation Christmas Child gives after completing a 12-lesson discipleship program. It was incredible for the student to see firsthand where some of these boxes go and the impact they’ve had on that child.”
For many students, participating in the shoebox project is not just about giving, it’s a deeply personal and rewarding experience.
“I feel so blessed and honored to be a part of this,” Payton said. “It’s amazing that we can do something that makes such a big impact. Something like this may seem small to us, but there are places where gifts like these aren’t normal. I’m just so happy to be involved; it’s my second year participating, and it never gets old.”
Payton hopes to inspire other students to get involved and experience the joy of giving firsthand.
“I encourage other Marshall students to participate and make children around the world happy,” Payton said. “Even though you may never meet them, you can write them a note, and they will remember and appreciate it for the rest of their lives. It’s something they’ll carry with them forever, especially on Christmas Day.”
Jaidyn Carter can be contacted at [email protected].
