SALISBURY​​​​​​​​​​ — Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, delivers gift-filled shoeboxes to millions of children in need each year. For years, Salisbury​​​​​​​​​​​ families have packed shoebox gifts for boys and girls around the world. One of these gifts reached Analyn Elliott in the Philippines when she was a young girl. Elliott is now visiting Salisbury​​​​​​​​​​ residents to share how the simple gift had a life-changing impact.

Elliott will be telling her story to local groups and churches on Sunday, April 14 at 2 p.m., at the  Salisbury Bible Fellowship  located at 1500 Court Plaza Lane in Salisbury. She wants to encourage residents as they kick off the upcoming collection season to fill more than shoeboxes with fun toys, school supplies and personal care items—contributing to the global goal of reaching 12 million children in Jesus’ Name.

What Analyn Elliott remembers most about receiving an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift is the joy she felt when she realized it was hers. That was a gift in itself for the middle child in a family of seven in the Philippines who struggled to make ends meet. Elliott tried not to compare what she had or didn’t have with her classmates, but it was hard not to wish for something to call her own. When Elliott received a shoebox—her first gift—she was filled with immense joy.

During Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week Nov. 18 – 25, Salisbury​​​​​​​​​​​ residents can bring gift-filled shoeboxes to multiple drop-off locations across the area to be announced in late October.

For more information, call 410-772-7360, or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 220 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.