During each holiday season, Operation Christmas Child motivates individuals, families, and groups to pack shoeboxes with essentials like toys, clothing, and hygiene items. These boxes are then distributed globally to children in need. Since starting in 1993, the initiative has delivered over 168 million shoeboxes to kids in more than 100 countries.
In November, during National Collection Week, Trail Life Troops in the U.S. packed thousands of these shoeboxes in their local communities.
Mark Hancock, CEO of Trail Life, explains that this partnership is a seamless match for their organization, which is the largest Christian, boy-centered scouting group in the U.S. Engaging in “Operation Christmas Child” resonates with their mission to serve others. It also offers a chance to steer boys towards the servant-leadership model exemplified by Christ.
Hancock said, “By embodying a boy who ‘grew in favor with God’ and matured into manhood, Jesus provides the blueprint for biblical manhood. His model of servant leadership is what we promote as the ideal of biblical masculinity for our Troops, encouraging our boys to mirror this in their lives.”
Franklin Graham, President and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, added, “Our aim is for children worldwide to understand that God loves them, cares for them, and sent His son from Heaven for them. This mission is one we share with organizations like Trail Life.”