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Those shoebox people seem to be everywhere I go these days. 

Because we are a shoebox family, too, when I overhear people discussing shoeboxes for Christmas, I know what they mean.

Operation Christmas Child was started in 1993 by Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham.

The project encourages volunteers to fill simple shoeboxes with toys, necessary items, candy and handwritten notes of encouragement, according to Samaritan’s Purse.

These gifts are hand-delivered to children across the world who are suffering because of natural disasters, disease, war, terrorism, famine and poverty. More than 69 million boxes have been distributed to children in 130 countries.

Families in Guilford County participate in the project.

The Benz family of Greensboro has been participating for more than six years. Al Benz challenged his family to pack 10 boxes for each of the seven children in the family. They packed 70 shoeboxes last Christmas. The Benz children range in age from 7 months to 15 years.

Rachel Benz coordinates the project for her church, Westside Chapel in Greensboro. She always challenges her church of 90 members to match her family’s number of boxes.

Rachel, Al and the children buy gifts for the boxes all year, shopping special sales and storing the items until it’s time to wrap them.

“I like shopping when I am doing it for someone else rather than spending the money on things we don’t need,” Rachel said. “We stock up on sunglasses, jewelry, beach balls and sidewalk chalk months ahead of time. Whenever we’re out, we keep our eyes open for any of those 'perfect’ shoebox gifts.”

This year the Benzes received a thank-you letter, written in French, from a girl in Mali, Africa, who received a box from them in 2008.

The Chrismon family from Jamestown filled 139 boxes last year for the drive at their church, Gate City Baptist Church.

David and Pam Chrismon and their daughters, Caroline and Annie, have been wrapping boxes for many years now. They also fill stockings for the Salvation Army’s ministry.

Pam starts early, visiting various shoe stores to see if they will donate boxes. She figures that way she can spend the $1 for more gifts instead of a plastic shoebox.

When they start filling the boxes, their first goal is to purchase personal hygiene items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, combs, soap and washcloths. Then they add school items. Pam said it’s easy to get school items, crayons and pens during back-to-school sales.

They also add toys and clothes.

It is amazing how much you can get in a shoebox.

“I want my kids to know it is better to give than to receive,” Pam said. “You receive more joy from giving. We pray over every box when we wrap it. We give the gift, not for ourselves, but for the glory of God.”

Pam said December is a special month for her family. Three of them have December birthdays, and her first child was born Dec. 24.

Courtney Guy, an 11th-grader at High Point Central High School, is coordinating the shoebox ministry at her church, Emmanuel Lutheran Church in High Point.

The Rev. Sue Gamelin says it’s a wonderful ministry for a young person to lead because it’s for children. “I want to think of the joy in each little face when they open their gift,” she said.

Guy’s family has participated in the ministry for years. She usually gets at least two presents — one for a girl and one for a boy.

“I get a good feeling after participating,” Guy said. “It’s like giving blood. You never know where it is going or who will receive it, but you know it is needed.”

Kay Hudson, also a member of Emmanuel Lutheran, gives two boxes for boys. She remembers buying for her own boys, who are now grown with children of their own.

“I put on Christmas music while I wrap the gifts. I enjoy it so much,” Hudson says.

Janice Brown of High Point recently attended First Baptist Church of Atlanta while visiting her daughter. She was surprised to learn that Franklin Graham of Samaritan’s Purse was there that day talking about the ministry. Brown had participated for years and even went to the warehouse and helped there.

Graham spoke of the need for boxes for boys 10 to 14 years old. Sometimes boys are asked if they would like one of the girl’s boxes if that is what is left. One boy said “no” he didn’t want a box until he saw a photograph of a couple on top of the box with a note, Hudson said.

“I need it,” he said. His own parents had just died from AIDS. He was an orphan, and he saw that couple as his parents.

As Rachel Benz said about her family, “Operation Christmas Child is something we have a passion for. It’s so awesome to be able to work together on something so big that is reaching kids and their families for the Lord.”

Contact Kathy Johnson at mjohnson2@triad.rr.com.