Brighten the holidays through Operation Christmas Child



WEST ALLIS (WITI) -- It's not quite Christmas morning, but it feels like it for Sarah and Rebekah Flater as they already have their presents, but instead of keeping them they're giving them all away.

"I don't mind not getting things because I'm still giving to other kids," said 10-year-old Rebekah Flater.

The girls have never exchanged gifts with their extended family.

Everyone uses the money that would've gone towards gifts to support Operation Christmas Child.

"These boxes will go to about 92 different countries and there will be about 8 million boxes this year that will be collected," said Operation Christmas Child volunteer John Fisco.

Operation Christmas Child is a nation-wide project put on by the organization Samaritan's Purse.

It collects shoe boxes filled with school supplies, toiletries, and toys, and delivers them to children in other countries who have nothing.

"It's amazing how they cherish one little box that they get and they carry that box around for an entire year because that's their entire belongings," said Fisco.

This effort began 20 years ago and has delivered more than 100 million shoe box gifts.

"It's better to give than to receive and that's what Operation Christmas Child is all about," said 10-year-old Joseph Lagina as he donated a box.

Operation Christmas Child will be collecting the shoe boxes filled with gifts until Monday.

The following are drop-off locations...

MILWAUKEE COLLECTION SITE:

ProBuColls Bookstore

9733 W Greenfield Avenue

Milwaukee, WI 53214

Operating Hours: Mon-Thurs, Nov. 18-21: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Fri, Nov. 22: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sat, Nov. 23: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sun, Nov. 24: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Mon, Nov. 25: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

GREENFIELD COLLECTION SITE:

The Ridge Community Church

4500 S 108th Street

Greenfield, WI 53228

Operating Hours: Mon, Nov. 18: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Tues, Nov. 19: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Wed-Fri, Nov. 20-22: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Sat, Nov. 23: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Sun, Nov. 24: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Mon, Nov. 25: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

BURLINGTON COLLECTION SITE:

Our Savior Lutheran Church

417 S Kane Street

Burlington, WI 53105

1-800-567-8580

Operating Hours: Mon-Tues, Nov. 18-19: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Wed-Fri, Nov. 20-22: 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Sat, Nov. 23: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Sun, Nov. 24: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Mon, Nov. 25: 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.