CBU Campus Mobilized For Operation Christmas Child
CBU campus mobilized for Operation Christmas Child
A campus-wide effort to collect items for Operation Christmas Child culminated in
a packing party Nov. 14th. (Photo by Kelsie Markoski)
RIVERSIDE (Nov. 16, 2012) –More than 100 California Baptist University students gathered Nov. 14 to pack 185
shoeboxes for the Operation Christmas Child ministry.
Between 9 and 11 p.m., participants in the packing party, organized by CBU's Office
of Spiritual Life, combined hundreds of items donated over the previous weeks. The
campus-wide effort began in September and involved volunteers on and off the campus.
During the collection process, residence complexes planned events to help gather
items from their assigned categories, which included school supplies, hygiene products,
toys, clothing and hard candies. Riverside Christian School and Air 1 Radio, a network
that plays contemporary Christian music, also contributed items.
"Aside from the packing party, we had students volunteer to help sort, wrap, bag
and fold items during the week leading up to the party," Dobbins added. "That was
neat for us to see so many of them willing to serve behind the scenes."
The university is uniquely connected with the Operation Christmas Child ministry.
Huda W. El-betjali, senior public administration graduate student, received a box
as a 9-year-old girl growing up in the Middle East. That gift began a continuing outreach
from the ministry that eventually led her to become a believer.
Begun in 1993, Operation Christmas Child is sponsored by Samaritan's Purse, an international
relief and evangelism organization that provides spiritual and physical aid to victims
of war, poverty, natural disaster and disease. This year, the organization expects
to surpass the 100 million mark in the number of shoeboxes collected.
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