Operation Compassion Delivers Christmas Across America
Boy with blow-up toy.
As early as March 2001, Operation Compassion began procuring toys, videos, cds, stuffed animals and gifts of all kinds with one goal in mind – Christmas 2001! For seven months, one million toys, gifts and stocking stuffers were collected, sorted and packaged for the numerous Christmas parties and special events that would occur during November and December.
Beginning the first week of November, the first semi-truck of toys, gifts, candy and snacks left the National Distribution Center warehouse heading for children of all ages all across America. As the last semi-truck reached its destination on December 21, 2001, literally thousands of children were given a Merry Christmas!
Children receiving toys.
During the six-week Christmas season, Operation Compassion delivered sixty-two semi-trucks of which forty-nine were also loaded with three hundred boxes of assorted food in addition to the candy, snacks, toys and gifts. Children and families in twenty-three states and five foreign countries benefited from this latest effort to assist communities and areas of low income and extreme poverty.
The key to this massive effort was the partnership of three hundred sixteen churches and agencies to provide a venue for the one million toys, gifts and stocking stuffers and food to be distributed. Churches and agencies in cities such as Mobile, AL, Moline, IL, Longview, TX, New York City, Haiti and Honduras, to name a few, hosted city-wide block parties, Christmas services and other creative and innovative methods for dispersing the Christmas gifts and food.
Francis Jones of Feed the Children standing with one of the families after receiving food and toys.
Singles parents, senior adults and two parent families living with restrictive or no funds available for their children’s Christmas were the recipients of the love and care of the pastors and leaders of their respective communities. Of course, many families found themselves in dire need because of the September 11th attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania.
With each semi-truck that was delivered, there is a story: some stories will break hearts; some stories will insight laughter; other stories will bring a subtle tear to the eye; still, other stories will give a sense of pride. However, with every story there are two common threads: Jesus Christ and compassion for His little ones! This is the motivation behind all the effort by everyone involved in Operation Compassion Delivers Christmas Across America!
Tim Burdashaw
Communications Coordinator
