Submitted by Gerry Clare
Roving Reporter
December 2, 2014 1:00 p.m.
November was the month to watch the members of our church pack shoeboxes full of toys, personal hygiene items, clothes and candy. Some of the Sunday school youth even filled out a little profile with their names, hobbies and best wishes for Christmas inside the boxes. First Presbyterian Church of Fernandina Beach delivered 127 boxes and postage money to the Journey Church center in Yulee for delivery with 1300 other boxes from area churches to be driven to Jacksonville for a combined shipment of approximately 28,000 boxes to Atlanta, Georgia, for shipment overseas to needy children in underprivileged countries.
Over the past 20 years over 100 million shoeboxes have been distributed by Samaritan’s Purse, a division of the Billy Graham ministry, to children everywhere. Some boxes have also been distributed during emergency situations such as earthquakes and tsunamis. Simple supplies such as soap, toothpaste, combs, writing materials and coloring books have also helped with emergency needs.
Laura and Robert Beasley and their daughter Amelia Jade have been a part of this effort at the distribution center with Springhill Baptist and the Journey Church for many years and are still excited about the success of this effort. Those who pack the boxes and pay online shipping can track their boxes around the world. Jade has actually corresponded with pen pals in South Africa and India.
Locally our churches and non-profit agencies also support many activities to help families and children at Christmas as well such as Joy to the Children, Toys for Tots and Shop with Cops. Our community is fully involved in Christmas activities.
Editor’s Note: Gerry began free lance writing for fun and is the author of a published book (available on Amazon and at Books Plus) about funny real estate experiences. Gerry is a longtime member of our local American Business Women’s Chapter, a volunteer cancer driver and church deacon who loves to read, travel and meet interesting people.