MEDIA RELEASE

UNICEF reports there are tens of millions of children in developing countries who have never attended school.

While a number of factors contribute to a lack of education among children in developing nations, one key component is access to basic school supplies.

However, this back-to-school season, Hilo parents, kids and teens are looking beyond their own school supply lists and making a difference in the lives of needy kids overseas.

By maximizing back-to-school sales, Hilo families are stocking up on items for Operation Christmas Child, a year-round project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham.

Participants fill shoe boxes with school materials, toys, necessity items, and letters of encouragement for children in poverty around the world.

This year Hilo island residents will be collecting more than 5,000 shoe box gifts, many of which are filled with discounted items from these back-to-school sales.

“The school supplies packed in these simple show box gifts often provide children with their only opportunity to attend school,” said Jennifer Trevithick, West Coast Regional Director. “I’m excited that with back to school deals, I can multiply the numbers of shoe boxes that will be packed.”

This shoe box packing effort, requiring months of organization and preparation, is expected to bless more than 9 million children this year suffering the effects of natural disaster, disease, war, terrorism, famine and poverty.

In 2012 Operation Christmas Child anticipates reaching a milestone—collecting and delivering shoe boxes to more than 100 million children since the project began in 1993.

Children learn they are loved and not forgotten. For many of these children, the shoe box will be the first gift they have ever received.

During National Collection Week (Nov. 12–19), fill shoe boxes with school materials, toys, necessity items and a letter of encouragement and drop it off at a collection site near you.

Step-by-step shoe box packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC

By using special tracking technology, participants can “follow” their shoe box and discover the country in which their gift will be hand-delivered to a child in need. To register your shoe box gift, use the “Follow Your Box” form online.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 714-432-7030 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC