Letter to the Editor - Thank you, students

Here is a great big thank-you to all the West Virginia University students who participated in Operation Christmas Child this past year. This thank you comes from the millions of children around the world who received the shoeboxes that you packed and from the Morgantown Area Operation Christmas Child Team.

Last year, we collected 8,455 shoeboxes in the Morgantown area, 103,000 in the state of West Virginia, and 8.6 million in the United States and internationally. Since 1993 we have delivered over 94 million shoe box gifts for needy children in more than 130 countries. This year is an exciting year for us, as we will have delivered over 100 million shoeboxes.

Operation Christmas Child reaches far beyond the moments of joy a child experiences while opening a shoe box gift. In fact, God is transforming lives through Operation Christmas Child and cultivating a generation of children who rise above their circumstances to give back to others. Here is one of their stories.

First Gift Ever

Cal State student Huda still vividly remembers the excitement she felt when someone handed her that special shoe box gift at a small church in Zarqa, Jordan. He father was out of work at the time, and life was extremely difficult for the family. The last thing 9-year-old Huda expected was to be on the receiving end of an act of kindness from someone whom she had never even met. Now, she is thrilled to have the ability to share that same act of kindness with other needy kids.

Thank you again for the time and effort that you gave to this wonderful project. If any students, dorms, sororities, fraternities or other WVU organizations want more information about this wonderful service project, please contact me.

Jeani Dunn is the Avery Relay Coordinator for Operation Christmas Child. You can contact her at (304)594-0291.