The Faith In Action club at Southmoreland High School is participating in the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind: Operation Christmas Child.

This ministry uses shoe boxes filled with gifts to bless children in need in more than 100 countries. For over 20 years, the Samaritan’s Purse project has collected and delivered more than 135 million shoe boxes, and students at Southmoreland are going to add to that number.

“I have no idea how many boxes we will pack,” said junior club member Abby Kropp. “My hope is that we get a lot, but it’s hard to guess since we’ve never done this before.”

This week the Dog Pound in the cafeteria will be open during all lunches to collect monetary donations to help pay for shipping of the boxes and item donations to fill the shoe boxes. Each grade level will be assigned a box to place donations, and in the hopes of “motivating more people to bring items in,” a prize will be awarded before Thanksgiving break to those in the winning grade level who have brought in donations.  

“As high school students, I think we all have a competitive nature,” said Kropp.

At the end of the week on Friday, the club will be hosting a packing party that is open to all high school students. Items that will be placed in the boxes include toothbrushes, toothpaste, and washcloths, as well as fun items such as coloring books and matchbox cars.

Ideas for other donation items can be seen on the table located in the back of the cafeteria

“If I could say anything to the student body, I would want them to know that this project is for a good cause,” said junior club member Alison Huffman. “Whether you’re involved with Faith in Action, whether you’re a Christian or not, this project is intended to help less fortunate children receive a gift for Christmas.”

Visit https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/ for further information

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Bailey Geehring

I am a senior and a second year editor for the Tam O'Shanter. I will attend California University of Pennsylvania in the fall to pursue a career as a Speech-Language Pathologist.
"Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud"- Maya Angelou

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