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A brighter Christmas: United Methodist sews dresses for the world’s needy children Bill Fentum, Nov 2, 2009
PHOTOS COURTESY OF OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
Operation Christmas Child distributes nearly 8 million gifts each year to children in impoverished regions of the world.
By Bill Fentum Staff Writer
Dozens of young girls who live with little hope will know at least a moment of joy this Christmas. Doris Higgins has made sure of it.
The 91-year-old member of First United Methodist Church in Durango, Colo., sews 60 brightly colored dresses each year for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of North Carolina-based non-profit Samaritan’s Purse.
The dresses—as well as gifts donated by millions of other Christians worldwide—will be delivered in wrapped shoeboxes to children in countries devastated by war, poverty or natural disasters.
Last year, a total of 7.9 million boxes were collected, including 4.8 million in the U.S. Organizers say over 7,000 United Methodist churches participated.
Samaritan’s Purse is headed by Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham. The relief group works with church teams in more than 100 countries to distribute the boxes in impoverished neighborhoods, orphanages, children’s hospitals and refugee camps.
In addition to her dresses, Ms. Higgins also stitches tote bags to help the children carry their school supplies. She prays for them while she sews, and pins a hair ribbon into the pocket of each dress for a signature touch.
“I try to imagine the smiles on their faces when they open the boxes,” she said. “Maybe they’ve never had anything as nice as that.”
Ms. Higgins retired in 2004 after 36 years as a professional seamstress. But she still finds time to volunteer two days a week at the First UMC thrift store and sews hundreds of craft items for the annual church bazaar.
“I use materials I glean from the thrift shop, so I never need to buy very much,” she said. The crafts fill the guest room of her house, and range from aprons and potholders to throw pillows and crib quilts.
Her son Tom Higgins, also a First UMC member, said his mother never goes anywhere without her sewing basket: “There’s never an idle moment in her life.”
Mr. Higgins oversees an Operation Christmas Child drop-off center at the church. Just before Thanksgiving, thousands of packed shoeboxes will pour in from area congregations, businesses and schools. Trucks will then deliver the boxes to a processing center in Denver for inspection and shipment.
The church collected 3,200 boxes in 2008, down a little from 2007. Mr. Higgins blames the economy, but expects things to turn around this year.
“We’ve set a goal of 4,000 boxes,” he said, “and a lot churches are pitching in.”
Parents and children often shop together for items to fill a box, Mr. Higgins said. Popular choices include stuffed animals, T-shirts, hard candy or toothbrushes.
“Young kids especially learn a little about how children live in other parts of the world—and how blessed we are here,” he said.
Started in Wales
Operation Christmas Child (OCC) began as the brainchild of Dave and Jill Cooke of Wrexham, Wales. Motivated in October 1990 by seeing news footage of revolution-torn Romania, the couple collected and sent six truckloads of medical supplies and gifts in time for the holiday.
The Cookes sought Mr. Graham’s help in 1993 to expand the project into Bosnia. Since then, more than 61 million boxes have been distributed around the world. The Greatest Gift of All, a booklet about the life of Christ that has been translated into 50 languages, is handed out with the gifts if recipients choose to accept it. “There is a real passion and a real sense of urgency for our volunteers and our staff to reach these children with the gospel,” said Randy Riddle, OCC’s national director. “That’s our mission.”
OCC asks a donation of $7 per shoebox for shipping and project costs. Participants often enclose personal notes or family photos in their boxes, and kids can invite the children to become pen pals.
“That isn’t always easy,” Mr. Riddle said. “The child who receives the gift may not have the means to post a letter, or they can’t find anyone to send an e-mail to you.”
Starting this year, however, anyone who donates the $7 online at SamaritansPurse.org can print out a barcode label to attach to the packed shoebox. When it ships out, they will learn via e-mail the destination along with information about how OCC operates in that country.
Local Christians who know the safest routes oversee of the transportation of boxes on trucks, helicopters or even dog sleds. “We do whatever it takes to see that each gift is hand-delivered to a child,” said Mr. Riddle.
“It doesn’t take much to fill a shoebox. It’s something almost anyone can do, to reach a child living a world away.”
How to participate
Shoeboxes packed with gift items must be dropped off at an Operation Christmas Child collection center the week before Thanksgiving, Nov. 16-23. For a list of centers, see www.samaritanspurse.org/occ or call (800) 353-5949. Boxes may be mailed year-round to Samaritan’s Purse/Operation Christmas Child, 801 Bamboo Rd., Boone, N.C. 28607.
Gift ideas
Gifts must be chosen for a specific sex and age range: 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14. Suggestions: small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, yo-yos and jump ropes, pens, crayons, writing pads, toothbrushes and paste, combs, washcloths, mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches and flashlights with extra batteries.
DO NOT SEND used, damaged or breakable items; war-related toys (guns, knives or military figures); chocolate or food; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; aerosol cans.
Packing
Identify each box with a boy or girl label, available at collection centers or by calling (800) 353-5949. Pack the items in a shoebox, which can be wrapped (lid separately), though not required. Place a rubber band around each box.
You may leave a note for the child and a photo of your family in an envelope (include your name and address) inside the box.
Samaritan’s Purse asks a donation of $7 per shoebox for shipping and project costs. Checks payable to Samaritan’s Purse may be placed on top of gift items inside the boxes. Donations are also accepted online.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
Her son Tom Higgins, also a First UMC member, said his mother never goes anywhere without her sewing basket: “There’s never an idle moment in her life.” 
