Over 700 freshmen and peer leaders, along with Gateway professors and volunteers, gathered in Walker Arena on Lee’s campus earlier this month to pack Christmas gifts into shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child (OCC). The boxes will later be distributed to children around the world. 
During the event, known as “Pack ‘n’ Stack,” students filled boxes with hygiene products, socks, small toys, coloring books, and more. Students prepared 815 boxes during this year’s event, bringing Lee’s 29-year total to 50,992 boxes. 
  
“Every box we pack represents a child who discovers they are not forgotten, they are loved, and they can have hope,” said Dr. Lorinda Roberts, director of First Year Programs and associate dean of the School of Theology & Ministry. “What a gift we have to be a part of something so magnificent!” 
 
Other festivities included a Gateway class banner painting contest, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a festive outfit competition. The evening concluded with a representative from each class, along with Campus Pastor Wesley Lutes, praying over the boxes. 
 
“For the past three years, I have been able to experience Operation Christmas Child from a peer leader’s perspective,” said Ashlee Hickey, a senior integrated early childhood education major. “Getting to see my Gateway students participate and grow in their understanding of the mission behind OCC has been a thrill each year. Many students come into Gateway not knowing what OCC is but leave feeling impacted and honored to be part of reaching children around the world.” 

To contribute to Operation Christmas Child, contact First Year Programs at [email protected] or the Student Engagement office at [email protected] to get an empty shoebox and turn it back in by Nov. 13.  
 
For more information about Operation Christmas Child, visit samaritanspurse.org.