Many people look forward to seeing large, decorated or wrapped piles of gifts on Christmas morning. Some children, however, just hope to receive a small shoebox filled by a stranger they will never meet. Thanks to Samaritan’s Purse’s annual Operation Christmas Child, this is made possible each year.

This year, one local business has helped lead the way in box donations. Team members at HealthCARE Express in Texarkana donated time and supplies to stuff 317 shoeboxes as part of this year’s collection drive organized by the Kiwanis Club of Texarkana. Their shoeboxes were picked up on Tuesday to begin their journey around the world spreading Christmas cheer.

“It started out as a challenge I made at a Kiwanis meeting to other businesses that HealthCARE Express could collect more boxes then their business could. I didn’t really know if we would at the time, but I’m competitive. When we told our team members about Operation Christmas Child, they were really inspired and excited. At first we just asked our team members to help us gather shoeboxes, but soon we had people bringing in stuffed boxes,” said Pam Reynolds, chief operating officer of HealthCARE Express and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Texarkana.

When a family emergency took Reynolds away from town the week leading up to National Collection Week for the boxes, two team members at HealthCARE Express stepped up to make sure all the boxes got stuffed. Pat Musgrove, clinic coordinator at HealthCARE Express, and Amanda Freeman, chief financial officer, both gave up two days of vacation time to help shop for items and to stuff most of the 317 boxes.
“One of our team members shared a story with us about missionaries from her church who actually were able to deliver some of the boxes. She said the children were excited about the toys in the box, but they were equally as excited about the wrapping paper, which they used to decorate the walls in their homes,” said Reynolds. “I think this story really helped put into perspective why we were asking our team members to give something back to others. The sense of giving is something HealthCARE Express really hopes to inspire in both our team members and also in our community.”

It’s not too late to donate a box to Operation Christmas Child. National Collection week ends this Friday, but the organization also collects boxes year round. Once packed, the boxes are shipped to various countries throughout the world, in many cases going to missionaries in the field.

Participating in the program is very easy. Simply take an empty shoebox of standard size, wrap the box and lid separately so the can be opened; determine if your box is for a boy or girl and what age category they will be in; fill the box with appropriate gifts; include a $7 donation to help with postage; and drop it off at a collection location.

Reynolds added that good gifts for the boxes include toys, like small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, jump ropes and harmonicas. School supplies also are great to include in the boxes, as are hygiene items, like toothpaste and brushes, combs, mild soap and washcloths. Hard candy and lollipops, mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, sunglasses, hair clips and ball caps also can be packed.

Items that should not be included are damaged or used goods, war-related items like toy guns, chocolate or other food, out-of-date candy, liquids and lotions, medication or vitamins and breakable items.