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Emily and Sarah Chamberlain of Columbia City are out to make Christmas a happier time for children all over the world. Through Operation Christmas Child, you can be a part of it, too.

By HANK WORKMAN
for The Post & Mail

   The letter said it all, “My family were so glad to get some gift from you. So thank you again. I and my wife are teachers of the Sunday School. We have a small church and we praise God for everything.” This came from a man in Russia with four children. He was one of the recipients of the Operation Christmas Child shoebox drive.
   Headed up by Sarah and Emily Chamberlain, daughters of Dr. Timothy and Emma Chamberlain of Columbia City, the girls dragged their mother along for the haul and were able to put together 1,500 shoe boxes last year with the help of many people and businesses in the community as well as their church, Big Lake Church of God. The church ran weekly ads in their bulletin and had a box in their narthex for donations. It was quite an awesome undertaking and the congregation was inspired as in the back of the sanctuary a Christmas tree of shoeboxes began to grow from week to week up the back wall.
   Operation Christmas Child is an organization started by Franklin Graham and Samaritan’s Purse. Each year thousands of boxes are sent throughout the world to children who would normally not receive anything on Christmas Day. Filled with toys, school supplies, hygiene items, candy, clothing — well just about anything that would fit in a shoebox — they are individually wrapped and sealed with a rubber band.
   Last year, donations came in from nearly 30 businesses and individuals.  When all was said and done, 2,057 toothbrushes, 1.233 tubes of toothpaste, 700 hairbrushes and $1,700 were collected.
This year Sarah and Emily began the process of once again heading up this mission. Their goal is 1,000 boxes. They are looking for anyone to join in the journey. If you would like to purchase items for these gifts or make a monetary gift contact 691-3189 or 691-3503.