Shoebox Recipient to Attend Flapjack Fundraiser Breakfast

Operation Christmas Child's Northwestern New Jersey area team volunteers invite the community to a Flapjack Fundraiser breakfast event on Saturday, October 5, 2019 from 8:00 am to 10:00 am at the Applebee's in Newton. The cost for breakfast will be $10 ($5 for children 10 and under; free for children 3 and under). Tickets can be purchased at the door, or ordered at 973.670.8091 or at jdrew@juno.com. Applebee’s location is 6 North Park Drive Newton, New Jersey 07860. Proceeds from the event will go to Operation Christmas Child to help cover the shipping cost of the millions of shoebox gifts that will be collected this year through Operation Christmas Child for children in need around the world. Every year many families, individuals, and groups in Northwestern New Jersey pack thousands of these shoeboxes each filled with school supplies, hygiene items, and fun toys!

Alina Aisina received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift wrapped in beautiful paper while living in Central Asia. Her favorite item in the box was a pair of pink princess shoes which she wore everywhere. The shoebox reminded Aisina that she was not alone. Today she looks back on that day and is reminded that Christians are called to give and serve others. This simple gift was so much more than just a box filled with fun toys and school supplies. It was a powerful reminder that God loved her and she was not forgotten. Aisina is now passionate about sharing this same hope with millions of boys and girls like herself. During the flapjack breakfast she will meet those in attendance to share how this gift, just like those packed in Northwestern New Jersey, changed her life. Aisina is encouraging the community to continue giving generously. This year, Northwestern New Jersey volunteers hope to locally collect more than 14, 470 shoeboxes packed with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items to contribute toward the global goal of reaching 11 million children.

During Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week Nov. 18 – 25, Northwestern New Jersey residents can drop off gift-filled shoeboxes at multiple locations in the area.

to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 168 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.