CLEVELAND — Many church’s in Ohio participate in the Samaritan's Purse project Operation Christmas Child, looking to help children in need.

Samaritan's Purse, a national organization, collects shoe box gifts filled with fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items, and delivers them to children in need around the world.

“For it is in giving that we receive,” is a Bible quote that Clevelander John Armstrong said he and his family live by.

“We want to instill, you know, it's better to give than receive, golden rule, treat people like you want to be treated,” said Armstrong.

Having packed shoe boxes for more than 10 years, he recently became the area coordinator for the Greater Cleveland East team for Samaritan's Purse this year, and even amid a pandemic, his team packed about 10,000 boxes, which is all a part of nationwide effort that collects around 10 million boxes each year.

“So, it was actually about 160 more than last year, which we were really happy and surprised about just because with everything going on, as you know, this year with the COVID and everything like that,” said Armstrong.

The 10,000 boxes came from help from local churches and businesses around the area, like Chardon Christian Church. Led by Alicia Taylor, the church joined as a drop-off location just this year.

“When my kids were old enough to understand like, ‘Hey, you're going to pick out a present for someone else,’ that's why we've been doing it ever since, just so they understand, you know, it's more about giving than receiving and to learn the story of the Samaritan, good Samaritan, at a young age, and then be able to see as they get older, you know, the shoe boxes where they go and how the kids need them,” said Taylor.

Going all in, her kids, Maya and Sienna, even made a video on how to properly pack a shoe box.

“They have to learn that they are privileged because sometimes at that age they're kind of like the world revolves around me, but it's much better for them to understand no it doesn't,” Taylor said. “And there are people that have needs that have things that you think, you know, you could just totally take for granted like a toothbrush. And there are many people, many kids your age that don't have that. So it's good for them to learn.”

Collection week is done, but there are still ways to get involved.

“Online, they actually have the ability, you don't even have to drop off the shoebox, but build a box online,” Armstrong said. “I think the suggested donations around $25, you can go on there, build the shoe box, and it will get sent to a lot of times to these hard to reach areas.”

The gift of giving this holiday season is giving the chance to go beyond what the eye can see.

“It’s a way to connect to someone else,” Taylor said. “It’s a way to share Jesus’ love to whoever that box reaches, and it’s a way to teach your kids that they’re not the center of the world.”

For more information, visit the Samaritan’s Purse website.