Operation Christmas Child: Anyone have a kid write back?

[laurajetter]

For those of you who have participated in putting together shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, I was wondering if you've ever experienced having a child write back to you?

My family has been doing Operation Christmas Child off and on for a number of years but have never had a child write back. Granted, we usually don't send out very many, maybe one or two and I know the situations are different in other areas of the world so they may not be able to respond. I don't necessarily expect them to, it's just a little extra thing I've always hoped for in the back of my mind since the pamphlet says if you include your address they might write back.

So if anyone has experienced a response, would you mind sharing? I'd love to hear about the impact the shoe boxes have had, where they've ended up and what the children are like who've received them from you.

 

[cabanafrau]

We never received any response, other than lots and lots of glossy appeals and mailings for further donations for their other causes after I was stupid enough one year to include a check to cover shipping. Not fond of charities that put their hand out w/ so many mailings, particularly glossy booklets, etc.

 

[momz]

I've never heard anything back, but I never expected to. These boxes go to children that experience extreme poverty. what are the odds they have stationary , or stamps, or have any understanding of what the paper with your address on it even means (do they read and write in your language)?

I guess I just consider it a faith gift. Meaning, once it leaves me hands, I have no further control of it, but I have faith that it will in fact be delivered to a needy child.

But, if you are interested in establishing a relationship with a child that you can correspond with, might I suggest reading about Compassion international? You can provide monthly support for a child, and send letters back and forth. My family started doing this for a boy in Indonesia when we lost our child. He has been a blessing to watch grow, and I pray that our support of him makes a difference in his life.

I'm sure that the children who receive your Christmas boxes will cherish the memory of opening the colorful package to find all those wonderful treasures inside.

 

[NewCrew42]

I once helped my Sunday school class at church organize the Operation Christmas Child drive. I asked for other families to write a letter but no one else did, so the night we put together the shoe boxes, we ended up photo copying my families letter and sending it out in around 800 boxes. That year, I received two letters back, both in Spanish. Both letters thanked us for the boxes. One of the children wrote about being a Christian and about her brothers and sisters. The other letter was more of a thank you and very simple as from a small child with a picture drawn with crayon.

That was about 10 years ago.

Every other year, we have done a few boxes as a family and didn't receive a letter. This year and last year we didn't include a letter.

A friend of mine was in Guatemala on a mission trip and helped pass out boxes there. She said the children receiving them were VERY poor and absolutely thrilled to receive the gifts.

I have another friend who has passed them out as well and they were in orphanages in eastern Europe.

I hope this helps you.