Nov. 16, 2015
For Immediate Release

 

By Kasey Ricketts, student news writer

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - A pen, a bar of soap, socks and a
stuffed animal are all basic items that can easily be found in many households.
Now imagine for Christmas getting these items delivered to you in a shoebox.

For most this would be a
disappointing gift, but to the children of Operation Christmas Child it leaves
an everlasting impact in their life.

CU's 514 freshmen collected 563 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes today at FIRST CLASS. From left are: Bree Dunn of Lexington, Ky., mentor; Kidada Dowell, a senior mentor from Radcliff, Ky.; and freshmen Rachel Seals of Wilmore, Ky.; Shelby Lash of Nashville, Tenn. and Ariel McGinnis of Science Hill, Ky. bring boxes.  (Campbellsville University Photo by Dr. G. Ted Taylor)

Campbellsville University's 514 freshmen collected 563
shoeboxes today at chapel to send to underprivileged children throughout the
world. Last year, freshmen sent 424 boxes.

“These hurting children need to know that God loves them and
that they are not forgotten,” Sherry Bowen, secretary of the School of
Theology, said. “Simple gifts but big blessings for all involved.”

 

Bowen is one of the organizers
locally of Operation Christmas Child, an annual Samaritan's Purse project that
helps to spread joy to millions of children around the world. This is done, she
said, by encouraging others to take a shoebox and fill it with school supplies,
hygiene items and notes of encouragement - along with a “wow” item such as a
doll or soccer ball.

Savannah Workman, a senior from Fort Gay, W. Va., carries Operation Christmas Child boxes to Ransdell Chapel. (Campbellsville University Photo by Dr. G. Ted Taylor)

For many of these children the shoeboxes are their first
gifts they have ever received.

For the past three years
Campbellsville University has served as a collection center for Operation
Christmas Child.  Last year, CU made history by being the first collection
center in the Heart of Kentucky Area to collect over 7,000 shoebox gifts.

Yet, the collection site is just the
first stop on a journey across the world to where the gifts will be delivered
to children overseas. The boxes are delivered by all means necessary whether
it's by boats, airplanes, train or even elephants.

 

“This year's goal is working toward
getting 10,000 boxes collected at the relay center during collection week,”
Bowen said.

 

The National Collection Week for
Operation Christmas Child will be Nov. 16-23.

 

Dr. G. Ted Taylor, director of FIRST
CLASS and Church Outreach Program at Campbellsville University, is the relay
coordinator for CU and Taylor County.

 

“I am thankful that Campbellsville
University gets to play a small part in what He will do,” Katlin Weeks, a
member of the CU OCC team, said. “I hope all the freshman, mentors, instructors
and all CU students see that this is more than filling a box. This is about
sharing the love of Christ and seeing little children come to know their
Father.”

All other students, faculty and staff
may bring theirs to chapel on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Dr. Donna Hedgepath, vice president for senior affairs, carries her OR-100 shoeboxes to Ransdell Chapel. (Campbellsville University Photo by Dr. G. Ted Taylor)

During collection week the center
will be located at Campbellsville University, 307 N. Court St., Campbellsville,
Ky. and will be open as follows: Monday. Nov. 16 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.;
Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 6:30
p.m. until 8:30 p.m.; Thursday. Nov.19 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.; Friday. Nov.
20 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.; Saturday. Nov. 21 from 11 a.m. until 1
p.m.; Sunday. Nov. 22 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.; and Monday. Nov. 23 from 9
a.m. 11 a.m.

For more information on how to
participate in Operation Christmas Child, call (270) 789-5029 or visit
samaritanspurse.org.

 

Campbellsville University is a widely
acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students
offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas
and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.