Salisbury Church Giving X-Mas Gifts To Kids In Need - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

SALISBURY, Md. - With just 10 days until Thanksgiving and just under two months until Christmas, Operation Christmas Child is in full swing.    

It's a program which donates millions of gifts to children across the world.

"This is Christmas, this is the meaning of Christmas," said Nicole Smith.

David Smith said that "many of these children have nothing in their lives."    

For the Providence Presbyterian Church, the holidays are about giving back and giving back in a big way.  

"We've been involved with Operation Christmas Child for the last seven years and it is a great opportunity to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ with children all around the world," said David Smith.    

This year is no different for church members and their families.

"My children have had birthdays recently and in lieu of presents that had their friends bring items to put together a shoe box," said Nicole Smith.    

She adds that she couldn't wait for Operation Christmas Child to start, especially after hearing the story of a Romanian girl who previously received a box.

"Just receiving some hair clips, her own toothbrush was a way she saw real love for the first time."    

This year is the 20th anniversary of this worldwide program and will donate their 100 millionth shoe box this Christmas, destined for a child in the Dominican Republic.

Providence Presbyterian Church will be packing boxes until next Monday.  The boxes will then be shipped out to Boone, North Carolina, after which packages will be sent out to children worldwide.