2,000 Shoebox Gifts Packed During Christmas in July

Christmas in July participants stopped by several stations as they packed boxes.

Hundreds of people from Walnut Creek Church and the Des Moines community gathered together at Walnut Creek Downtown on July 31 to pack 2,000 shoeboxes with gifts for children in impoverished and war-torn countries. All 2,000 boxes were packed in just over two hours.

For the fifth year in a row, Walnut Creek Church partnered with Operation Christmas Child (OCC), a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, to host the Christmas in July packing party. For the second year in row, the gift-filled shoeboxes are being sent to special-access countries, which are resistant to the Gospel and OCC’s efforts. The goal is for the boxes to make a way for the Gospel to get to children who would have little to no access to it otherwise.

The event also raised almost $2,000 for OCC through donations and proceeds from a dinner that was served. When combined with previous fundraising efforts – and an anonymous donation of $7,000 – a total of nearly $12,000 has been raised so far to help cover the cost of shipping the boxes overseas.

New this year, the event featured guest speaker Timur Nesbitt, who received an OCC shoebox – the first gift he had ever been given – as a 13-year-old boy living in an orphanage in Central Asia. Inside the shoebox was a yo-yo, Tootsie Roll candy, school supplies, socks, toothpaste and a letter and photo from a boy in Texas who had packed the box.

“Through the shoebox, I felt loved,” Timur said. “Someone took the time to put in those items that became my favorites. I wondered a lot how Christians who didn’t know me were willing to give me a gift.”

Three years later, Timur was adopted by an American missionary family from Iowa. He learned about OCC and excitedly told them he had received a shoebox gift. Timur plans to return to his home country one day to bring the message of God’s healing love to others who are hurting.

Samaritan’s Purse is an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has hand-delivered more than 100 million gift-filled shoeboxes to needy children in more than 130 countries. To learn more about Operation Christmas Child, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ/.

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By Tim Laehn 

Walnut Creek Downtown 

#m2tc | Pancake Brunch Raises Money for Operation Christmas Child

A Downtown Community Group serves pancakes Sunday to raise money for Operation Christmas Child.

As a fundraiser for Operation Christmas Child, a Mission to the City group served a pancake brunch after church on Sunday, May 24 at the Downtown location. The money raised – nearly $500 – will go toward the church’s annual Christmas in July event on July 31. This year, the goal for Christmas in July is to raise $7,000 and pack 2,000 shoeboxes with gifts for children in impoverished countries with little or no access to the gospel.

“The pancake brunch is a great way to serve families from the Sunday morning service as well as other Mission to the City groups looking for an easy way to eat lunch together,” said Brett Stewart, one of the organizers of the event. “Plus, the money raised goes to a great cause, and who doesn’t love pancakes?”

The leftover pancakes, syrup, and butter were donated to Bethel Mission, an emergency shelter for homeless men, and also taken to a homeless camp in Des Moines.

Before church on Sunday, the group met at 7 a.m. at Walnut Creek Windsor Heights to start mixing batter and flipping pancakes. They filled seven roasters full of pancakes, which they hauled downtown before church. Immediately following the service, the group set up a serving line in front of the stage and also plugged in griddles to keep flipping pancakes.

They served plain and chocolate chip pancakes with butter, syrup, and peanut butter. They also offered lemonade, coffee, and water. The cost was $5 per plate for all-you-can-eat pancakes, and kids ate for free.

Mark your calendars for Christmas in July on July 31, and begin collecting new and gently used toys, school supplies, and hygiene items for the gift boxes.

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By Tim Laehn 

Walnut Creek Downtown

Christmas in July Exceeds Fundraising Goal

Volunteers packed 1,000 shoeboxes filled with gifts and the message of the Gospel for children around the world at the Christmas In July event on Friday evening.  Photo by Graham Gardner

In just over an hour, hundreds of people from Walnut Creek Church and the Des Moines community packed 1,000 shoeboxes with gifts for children in poverty. In addition, the fourth annual Christmas in July event at Walnut Creek Downtown raised more than $4,500 to pay for shipping the boxes overseas. When combined with the money raised prior to the event, a total of nearly $9,000 was raised – exceeding the fundraising goal by almost $2,000.

“It was incredible seeing the Lord come through and answer our prayers so specifically,” said event organizer Bo Laehn of Walnut Creek Downtown. “We were a little nervous about our ability to pack 1,000 boxes in two hours. But then God thought it would be funny if we could get it all done in one.”

Each year, Walnut Creek partners with Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, for the Christmas in July packing party. New this year, the shoeboxes are being sent to special-access countries, which are closed to the Gospel. The goal is for the boxes to make a way for the Gospel to get to children who would have little to no access to the truth otherwise.

“It’s a tremendous privilege to be the only church in Iowa throwing a special-access packing party this year,” Laehn said. “It’s an even greater honor to know 1,000 kids will experience Jesus’ love for them and have an opportunity to hear the Gospel because of the Lord’s work through Christmas in July.”

The event closed with a concert featuring Christian hip hop artists Beautiful Eulogy. Proceeds from the concert contributed to the $9,000 that was raised. “The concert was a great way to end the event and celebrate what was accomplished,” Laehn said. “It was also a great way to bring new people through the doors to learn about Operation Christmas Child.”

The event organizers would like to thank everyone who participated in and contributed to Christmas in July. They’d especially like to thank Operation Christmas Child volunteer Heather Rowley for her support and the Windsor Heights Dairy Queen for donating the Dilly Bars that were served with the meal.

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By Tim Laehn 

Walnut Creek Downtown 

Join Walnut Creek for Christmas – Tonight

Attendees of last year's Christmas in July event packed more than 300 boxes and raised more than a $1,000 for Operation Christmas Child.

Members of Walnut Creek Church are teaming up with Operation Christmas Child to throw a Christmas party for children all over the world. The event, dubbed “Christmas in July,” will take place tonight from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Walnut Creek Downtown. The fourth annual event is free and open to the public.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, partners with local churches worldwide to deliver gift-filled shoeboxes to hurting children in impoverished and war-torn countries. Walnut Creek Church’s Christmas in July event will provide attendees with an opportunity to pack shoeboxes for children around the world. A meal will also be served to help defray the cost of shipping the shoeboxes overseas. Each shoebox costs $7 to ship.

The event will close with a concert featuring Christian hip-hop artists Beautiful Eulogy, who will take the stage at 8:30 p.m. Proceeds from the concert tickets, which are on sale now, will also go toward the cost of shipping the shoeboxes.

“Our goal for this year’s Christmas in July event is to pack 1,000 shoeboxes and raise $7,000,” said event organizer Jed Johnson of Walnut Creek Downtown. “This is a significant increase from years past because our boxes will be going to limited-access countries, which have an even greater need.”

Christmas in July attendees are encouraged to bring items to include in the gift boxes, such as school supplies, small toys, and hygiene items (no liquids or gels). Attendees are also encouraged to consider a cash donation to help cover the cost of shipping the boxes they pack.

Samaritan’s Purse is an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has hand-delivered more than 100 million gift-filled shoeboxes to needy children in more than 130 countries. To learn more about Operation Christmas Child, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ/.

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By Tim Laehn 

Walnut Creek Downtown 

Pancakes with a Purpose

Come and get all-you-can-eat pancakes at Walnut Creek Downtown on Sunday, May 25, from noon to 1:30 p.m. The pancake brunch is one of the many activities happening at Walnut Creek Church this weekend as part of Mission to the City.

The proceeds from the pancake brunch will go to support Operation Christmas Child and Walnut Creek's annual Christmas in July party on July 18. This year's Christmas in July party will be bigger than ever because it will be a "special access" packing party.

Shoe box gifts packed at a special access party are sent to countries that are especially spiritually dark and resistant to Operation Christmas Child's efforts. Agreeing to host a special access party means committing to pack 1,000 boxes and raise $7,000.

"It's a huge honor to be asked by Operation Christmas Child to consider hosting a special access party," said Sarah Johnson of Walnut Creek Downtown and one of the event's organizers. "It's a big goal, but I'm confident in our ability to come together as a church to support this great cause."

Last year, Operation Christmas Child had requests for approximately 400,000 shoe box gifts from special access countries, and nearly 300,000 were collected. This year, the number of requests has grown to 500,000.

For $5 per plate, you can help Operation Christmas Child meet those 500,000 requests — and fill yourself with delicious pancakes.

Christmas Comes but Twice a Year

Dressed as a Christmas tree, Walnut Creek Church Deacon Greg Altmaier waits to get dunked during the Christmas in July event on July 12.

Volunteers from Walnut Creek Church and the Des Moines community packed an impressive 310 shoebox gifts and raised more than $900 during the Christmas in July party on July 12. The third annual event was hosted by Walnut Creek Downtown in partnership with Operation Christmas Child (OCC), a ministry of Samaritan's Purse.

OCC teams up with local churches worldwide to deliver gift-filled shoeboxes to hurting children in impoverished and war-torn countries. Each shoebox also includes a gospel booklet that shares with the children the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The Christmas in July event provided attendees an opportunity to pack shoebox gifts for children around the world. "It's always really encouraging to see entire families working together to pack gifts," said Jed Johnson, one of the event's organizers. "It's a great opportunity to teach kids about giving to those in need while helping a wonderful cause. Plus, it's fun for all ages."

In addition to the packing party, other highlights of the 2013 event included:

• A dunk tank, courtesy of Van Meter Fire and Rescue, with an opportunity to plunge the pastors and dunk the deacons;
• An igloo where kids could go ice fishing for prizes;
• A piñata;
• Free Dilly Bars, courtesy of Dairy Queen, and other refreshments; and
• A raffle for some great prizes from local businesses.

New this year, for every five items attendees donated to the gifts, they received a raffle ticket. Walnut Creek Church would like to thank areas businesses that contributed the raffle prizes: Bella Salon in Johnston, Dairy Queen in Windsor Heights, Justin Salem Meyer Photography, Scratch Cupcakery, and Starbucks.

OCC is an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, OCC has hand-delivered more than 100 million gift-filled shoeboxes to needy children in more than 130 countries. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, OCC hopes to collect another 9.8 million gift-filled shoeboxes in 2013. To learn more about OCC, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ/.