A former Operation Christmas Child shoebox recipient who spent part of childhood in an orphanage in the former Soviet Union will share a personal story of faith, hardship and adoption during the 12th Annual Ohio East Operation Christmas Child Dinner on Aug. 29 in Walnut Creek.
The event will be held at the Carlisle Inn, according to a community announcement. Organizers said the Ohio East Area of Operation Christmas Child has packed and shipped 408,296 shoebox gifts since 2013 to children in more than 150 countries.
Elena Nicholson, the featured speaker, said a shoebox gift she received at age 8 was the first present she had ever been given.
Nicholson and a sibling had been removed from what the announcement described as an abusive home marked by poverty and placed in an orphanage in the former Soviet Union. During that time, Nicholson received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox along with "The Greatest Gift," a booklet that introduced the message of God's love.
According to the announcement, the booklet inspired Nicholson to pray for a family for both children. That prayer was answered in 2004 when the siblings were adopted by a family in the United States.
Guests may attend either a noon luncheon or a 6 p.m. dinner at the Carlisle Inn.
Admission is free, though donations will be collected to help offset event expenses. Additional contributions will support "The Greatest Journey," the discipleship program that follows Operation Christmas Child outreach efforts.
Seating is limited and reservations are required by Aug. 22.
To reserve seats, contact Esther Troyer at 330-204-1502 or Malinda Baker at 740-502-0227. Questions about the event may be directed to Area Coordinators Brian and Alicia Zaugg at 330-231-7672.
Samaritan's Purse plans to collect gift-filled shoeboxes across the United States during National Collection Week, scheduled for Nov. 16-23.
Organizers said donors can drop off shoebox gifts at more than 4,000 collection sites located throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Operation Christmas Child is a ministry project of Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization.
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This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Operation Christmas Child dinner to feature former shoebox recipient