Dec. 5, 2016
For Immediate Release
Finishing loading Operation Christmas Child boxes from Ransdell Chapel at Campbellsville University were from left: Front row – Austin Greer and Dr. John Hurtgen. Second row – Sherry Bowen, Dr. Marilyn Goodwin, Dr. G. Ted Taylor, Joey Bomia, Jasmine Barnett and Heather Sabo Graham. Third row – Aron Neal and Fontez Hill. The university collected 790 boxes. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)
By Jordan Snider, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Taylor County Relay Center collected 6,626 shoebox gifts during national collection week 2016 for Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse.
Campbellsville University contributed 790 boxes, the churches contributed 5,454 boxes and the rest came from other organizations and individuals. Although that is 1,000 less than what was collected last year, each box will make a difference, according to Dr. Marilyn Goodwin, assistant professor of early childhood education, who was coordinator.
From left Dr. G. Ted. Taylor, Heather Sabo Graham, Dr. Marilyn Goodwin, and Sherry Bowen help carry Operation Christmas Child boxes to the truck. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)
Sherry Bowen, secretary for the School of Theology, said, “Each of these boxes will have a positive and lasting impact on an average of seven people. That’s over 46,000 lives that will be touched by the generosity and love of those who took the time to pack a shoebox.”
From left Aron Neal, Fontez Hill and Teresa Elmore help loading the truck with 790 Operation Christmas Child Boxes. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)
Since 1993, over 135 million shoebox gifts have been collected and delivered to more than 150 countries and territories. More than 7.4 million children and their families have been touched by these gifts that help them learn about The Greatest Journey that helps them learn how to know and follow Jesus.
Several Campbellsville University students praying for the Operation Christmas Child boxes before sending them out to the world. (Campbellsville University Photo by Jordan Snider)
For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, contact Bowen at (270) 789-5029 or at slbowen@forms.campbellsville.edu.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 4,500 students offering over 80 programs of study including 19 master’s degrees, six postgraduate areas and seven pre-professional programs. The university has off-campus centers in Louisville, Harrodsburg, Somerset and Hodgenville with instructional sites in Elizabethtown, Owensboro and Summersville and a full complement of online programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.