India to Lake Charles, 'Operation Christmas Child' comes full circle

CALCASIEU PARISH, LA (KPLC) - 'Operation Christmas Child' is the world's largest Christmas project of its kind, giving shoebox gifts to children worldwide dealing with the effects of disease, war and natural disaster.

Saturday, Westlake volunteers hosted their first community packing party. Among then was one woman from India whose experience with a shoebox comes full circle.

Saturday morning, Sujatha Yerramalla could be found volunteering with 'Operation Christmas Child'. But her story was unlike most there.

"When I was very young, I remember my niece who was just nine years old receiving a Christmas gift box," said Yerramalla.

The box was sent to them in India, from volunteers like the ones present in Westlake.

"When she opened the box she was surprised because she never used toothpaste before...She was so excited to have a toothbrush, a jumping rope, and toys," recalled Yerramalla.

It was that memory that drove Yerramalla to want to give back to other needy children. So when she moved to Lake Charles five years ago to become a teacher, she sought out the people behind the operation.

So Saturday, she along with a room full of volunteers did just that. They packed shoeboxes with stuffed animals, coloring books, and school supplies.

But Tatiana Woods, Regional Spokesperson for 'Operation Christmas Child' says it's more than just giving children gifts.

"This is the one thing that can bring them hope and joy and we're hoping to spread the gospel through that," explained Woods.

For Yerramalla, that one shoebox was how she came to know Christianity.

And now, she knows what it's like being on the other side, as a giver of gifts.

"I'm apart of that. I'm so excited," said Yerramalla.

Volunteers say they hoped to pack 200 large boxes, each one containing 23 shoeboxes, by the end of the day.

Yerramalla has seen it come full circle for her, and hopes it will for others too.

"I'm very happy for whoever receives, if they receive Christ that be the most exciting thing of my life," smiled Yerramalla. 

Another community packing party is scheduled for Sunday at 12 p.m. at the Maplewood First Baptist Church in Sulphur.

For more information: http://operationchristmaschild.org/

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