By: Faith Ishler ’20, Staff Writer

Every year, Lebanon Valley College student volunteers come together to wrap shoe boxes full of necessities for underprivileged children.

Operation Christmas Child is a program that involves donations of shoe boxes, stuffed animals, toiletries, school supplies and other goods. The shoe boxes will be filled with these necessities and sent to underprivileged children in South America and Africa.

Servants of Christ used to run Operation Christmas Child at LVC in the past, but for the first time, the sisters of Gamma Sigma Sigma will be taking charge.

“The purpose of Operation Christmas Child is to make sure everyone gets to feel special around Christmas time,” Katie Franke, a junior psychology and criminal justice major and president of Gamma Sigma Sigma, said. “This year we have a goal of filling 450-500 boxes.”

Every Sunday through Nov. 5, students and volunteers can help to fill the boxes with the supplies. The weekly event will be held in the Fellowship Lounge in the basement of the Frederic K. Miller Chapel, from 3-5 p.m. Students can sign up on Redbook.

Natalia Smith, administrative assistant to spiritual life and community service, has been a part of Operation Christmas Child for six years.

“Two years ago, we received a thank you note from a girl on a tiny island I had never heard of,” Smith said. “It was great to hear from someone from such a small place on the map.”

Students can make Christmas cards to add to the boxes as well as donate stuffed animals, toiletries and school supplies as long as it will fit into the shoe box.

For more information about Operation Christmas Child, contact Katie Franke at kdf004@lvc.edu.

fci001@lvc.edu