LIHUE — This year, Trint Dabin-Texeira’s Operation Christmas Child shoebox count is 116.
“He has a count every and he beats that count,” said his mom, Tehani, smiling. “I ask him every year, and he gives it to me.”
The 7-year-old boy is back at it, again, pitching in on the drive to collect shoeboxes that are filled with gifts and sent to needy children overseas through Samaritan’s Purse.
He saves money to buy presents for kids he’s never met. He does chores and recycles and what he gets paid goes toward small toys. He’s been doing that since he was 5 years old when he collected 60 shoeboxes
When asked why, he slowly and emphatically spoke three words on Monday: “Make them happy.”
“So they feel better,” Trint said while standing outside Breath of Life church.
He’s not bashful about asking friends and family to donate so he can fill even more shoeboxes, and he’s sure to thank them.
His mom said many people “are part of his team.”
“He’s excellent at it. He loves what he does,” Tehani said.
This year’s shoebox goal for Operation Christmas Child is 3,635, which would be a record.
Roberta Zarbaugh, who along with husband Kent is in charge of the central dropoff point at Breath of Life, is confident they can do it.
“That’s our goal. God’s goal is always bigger,”she said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Monday, churches across the country kicked off National Collection Week for the program that ships millions of shoeboxes to kids ages 2 to 14 in countries like Philippines, Peru and Indonesia.
Those boxes contain an array of gifts, including stuffed animals, toy cars, dolls, balls, flashlights, school supplies, hygiene items, hats and clothes.
They go to kids who have little and for some, who have never received a gift.
Pastor James Merritt of Waimea Baptist Church said an opening prayer.
“It’s just not about things, it’s about receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior,” he said.
He said Waimea Baptist Church is involved in OCC this year.
“We are feeling that God wants us to reach out and help people in the community,” Merritt said. “This is one of the ways that we’re doing it, taking it a step further out.”
Mike and Christina Ensman have overseen OCC efforts on Kauai for the past several years and this year, were promoted to regional area coordinators, which means they’re overseeing OCC efforts on the Hawaiian islands.
They went to Liberia in West Africa earlier this year, a country torn by war and disease, and got to see kids open the shoeboxes.
They were thrilled as the children shouted and laughed with delight.
“We are just so blessed, helping children who have gone through war and famine,” Christina said.
In the first years of the program, just a few churches on Kauai were involved. This year, there are about 25, along with many community groups. Individuals and families also donate shoeboes. Calvary Chapel Lihue dropped off about 50 shoeboxes on Monday.
Last year’s drive on Kauai set a record of 3,463 shoeboxes, which broke the record of 3,163 set in 2017.
“Word is spreading,” Mike Ensman said.
Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian organization, sent a disaster relief team to Kauai following the April 2018 flooding, so many people came to know more about the organization. Since 1993, OCC has collected and delivered about 150 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 160 countries and territories.
The community is welcome to donate. Central dropoff points on Kauai are Crossroads Christian Fellowship in Kapaa, Breath of Life in Lihue and Calvary Chapel North Shore in Kilauea.
Those dropping off a box are asked to donate $9 to cover shipping costs.
Mike Ensman noted they are off to a great start. Last year at this time, about 100 shoeboxes had been donated. Monday, about 900 had been dropped off.
“We smashed our first-day record,” Mike said.
Kent and Roberta Zarbaugh have been involved in local OCC efforts for six years.
Robert said she wanted to show her 12-year-old grandson that “there was more meaning to Christmas than just receiving gifts for himself.”
It worked.
Her grandson later brought a friend to a shoebox packing party and has donated to the program.
Kent said many children in other countries are homeless, own nothing and have never heard the gospel. He sees the shoeboxes of gifts as a chance to spread joy and faith around the world.
“That’s my motivation,” he said.
