The Friedman family is at it again.

 

After last year’s effort of stuffing over 500 shoeboxes with needy items for needy children for the Operation Christmas Child project, this year the Friedman family and their ever-determined 17-year-old sister and daughter, Adair, doubled their endeavor.

 

The Friedmans gathered together Sunday and packed 1,062 shoe boxes!

 

Adair, who immediately following last year’s gift-giving drive,  started gathering more shoeboxes, so that she’d be better prepared to outdo her efforts from 2015. She set about to start collecting  books, puzzles, games, dolls, stuffed animals, bars of soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, crayons, coloring books, school supplies, candy, shoes, clothes, hats, socks, play-doh, bouncing balls, frisbees and cloth bags to make this year’s event even bigger.

 

Adair’s parents, Christina and Steve, and their 10 other children, coordinated the event and packed all the goods this past Sunday at their church, Oakwood Church in Becker.

 

“We have had a great year of collecting items and getting donations to make it possible,” said Christina.

 

Two years ago, Adair and her younger sister pulled in enough items to stuff 37 shoeboxes — kicking off their campaign on giving unknown children a remarkable Christmas.

 

Last year, Adair and her siblings and family members went door-to-door to area businesses and asked if they had any small items they’d like to donate to fit in their shoeboxes. After they realized they had enough to pack over 500 shoeboxes, they were notified by the head honchos at Samaritan’s Purse (relief program headquarters for Operation Christmas Child) to participate in some of their advertising and promotions.

 

“We have gone to North Carolina to visit the Samaritans Purse headquarters,” said Christina.  “We have been involved in the Billy Graham/Franklin Graham Decision America tour. Adair has been interviewed by a nationally syndicated radio program to promote Operation Christmas Child.” 

 

Many people who heard Adair’s story donated money to help the Friedmans with the shipping costs of sending that many boxes overseas.

 

Christina says she and Adair have became year-round volunteers for the Minnesota chapter of Operation Christmas Child. 

 

The Friedmans have been featured in parades and also held a huge garage sale this past year where they sold all of Christina’s mom’s belongings after she passed away and they used the proceeds to grow their efforts with Operation Christmas Child this year.

 

Chick-Fil-A was one of many donors as they donated 500 stuffed cow plush toys to Adair’s program this year.

 

“It has been a great year full of blessings,” said Christina. “We are so excited to know that at least 1,062 children will hear about Jesus through these boxes.”

 

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 124 million children in more than 150 countries and territories.