Shoeboxes are stacked outside before they are donated.
December 8, 2021

The Gift of Christmas Kindness

St. John 1321 teamed up with Operation Christmas Child to ship gifts to impoverished children living on the margins of the world.

From October 31 through November 14, Kylee Schmiesing, of St. John 1321 in Chaska, Minnesota, collected items for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse. As an international relief organization, Samaritan’s Purse’s mission is “to provide partners around the world with shoeboxes filled with small toys, hygiene items, and school supplies as a way of reaching out to children with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Operation Christmas Child ships these essential gifts to children affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine, and disease; and to children living on Native American reservations in the U.S.”1

After the two-week donation drive members and non-members came together and packed 30 shoeboxes filled with gifts. The court spent a whole morning packing boxes so that they could send Christmas joy to children around the world. Car trunks overflowed with donations collected around town, and the excitement they’d bring to underprivileged children was felt by all.

In addition to the gifts, $96 were raised for shipping expenses so that the shoeboxes could be delivered promptly. After all, Christmas is merely weeks away.

This year, Kylee and St. John 1321 spread the Christmas spirit to all, both near and far! 

Article by Connor McEleney