Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, has become an annual event for the bridge. Our community fills hundreds of shoeboxes filled with toys, clothes, school supplies and other items children living in poverty around the world have little access to.

In December 2010, so many people in our community participated that we ran out of boxes, got more, and ran out again. We ended up giving 361 boxes, which set a new bridge record and beat our previous year’s total by 107.

This year, in November 2011, so many people and life groups in our community participated that we once again ran out of boxes and got more.  The goal was set at 1,000 boxes and through the generosity of so many, we collected 1,236 shoe boxes, which once again sets a new bridge record, beating last year's total more than three times over.

Heading to the depot!  This is what 1,236 shoeboxes looks like!

This mission opportunity has become a joyful part of our culture at the bridge that we look forward to every year. Since Operation Christmas Child started, more than 85,000,000 shoeboxes have been given to children in almost 100 different countries.

Check out the Samaritan’s Purse website and the video below for more information.