College of the Ozarks Revisits 'Operation Christmas Child'

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. -- We often think about what presents we want for the holidays, and sometimes it's things we really don't even need.

But there's a project to help children who really are in need of presents this year.

College of the Ozarks participates in Operation Christmas Child every year. The students fill shoe boxes with gifts to send to children living in poverty-stricken or war-torn countries worldwide.

The shoe boxes contain everything from toys to toothpaste. They're small, but they may be the only gift a needy child in another country ever receives.

"For many children, this is the only gift they ever receive for Christmas," says Daniel Tirle, a student at College of the Ozarks.

"It shows love where there is grey," adds Linda LeNeve, the Secretary to ChristianMinistries. "Where they don't have a mother, a father, they don't know what a toy is."

"I call it a mission trip without leaving home," says LeNeve. "We want our students to know what missions mean. What it looks like. What it feels like. What it tastes like."

This project really hits close to home for some of these students.

"I was very happy back then, because as a child you're happy for small things," says Tirle.

Daniel is from Romania. While he is now giving a shoe box to someone in need, when he was in second grade, he was receiving one.

"They'll watch American movies with families and all the shoe boxes around the Christmas tree, you know, well, that doesn't happen back home."

"I remember when I got it I was really excited because they us not to open it until we got home, so I was really anxious to open it!" says Keren Banegas, a student at College of the Ozarks.

Keren is from Honduras. She received her shoe box at age 10, right before hurricane Mitch forced her family into a shelter.

"Every time I went and saw my shoe box, I remember how somebody loves me, somebody actually packed this for me, and that gave me a lot of hope."

It's obvious that these boxes mean the world to the people receiving them.

"That joy, even if it lasts for a week, because children break toys, wear out the gloves, and the hat, but it's about if people can make other children happy even for a day or a week i think it's totally worth it," says Tirle.

But it also means something to those giving them.

"It gives them a feeling of worthiness," says LeNeve. "We all want to feel like we matter in this world."

If you still want to donate items or drop off a box, you can do so at College of the Ozarks.

Source: http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=728932

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