Scotty McCreery American Idol Winner Lends Helping Hand With Operation Christmas Child
Scotty MCreery, the 2011 American Idol winner, has got himself involved in Operation Christmas Child to help donate toys and other goodies for less fortunate children around the globe.
"I was raised to help kids that need it – to help kids in foreign countries that don't have the blessings I have," said the singer to UNC. "I want to use this platform I have for good things. Operation Christmas Child means so much to me because it can influence the lives of kids. Through Operation Christmas Child, we can share the love of Christ with as many people as need it."
The organization asks contributors to collect shoeboxes and fill them up with everything a child might need for Christmas such as toys, toothbrushes, candy, books, and more. The donators are asked to gift wrap the box and enclose a check for $7 to assist in the shipping of the boxes.
The donor is then asked to note whether they want it to go to a boy or girl, and what age range, between five and 10.
Boxes are to be dropped off at one of the 3,200 collection sites across the U.S. or they can be mailed in to Operation Christmas Child.
Donors can follow their shoe boxes with the organizations tracking service to see what country the box went to.
"In the United States, we're aiming to contribute 5.8 million shoe box gifts to the worldwide collection total," said domestic director of Operation Christmas Child, Randy Riddle, to UNC. "It's a big goal, but I believe we can reach it. U.S. kids realize that as tough as things are here in the United States, there are children around the world who have so much less. This small sacrifice can have eternal impact on a needy child."
Operation Christmas Child has been able to reach needy children in over 130 countries, and expects to collect 8.5 million boxes to add on to the 86 million collected since the organizations inception.
Visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ or call (800) 353-5949 for more info.