Woman delivers gifts to Uganda
A Ugandan boy poses with a box from Operation Christmas Child. At left, Christine Hainer of South Franklin poses with a young girl who received a box.
Christine Hainer poses with a Ugandan child who received a box from Operation Christmas Child.
Christine Hainer spent years packing shoeboxes full of gifts for children in impoverished or war-torn countries, but it wasn’t until she personally delivered the boxes to hundreds of children in Uganda that she saw the power of her organization’s mission.
Hainer, a volunteer for Operation Christmas Child for the past 12 years, flew with 100 other members to Kampala, Uganda, in late April to spend a week giving the gifts to young children and spreading the group’s Christian message.
The South Franklin resident, now working as the organization’s area coordinator, had watched videos of previous missions to other countries and seen the joy on the children’s faces, but it was quite another emotion to experience it in person. The children love toy cars and stuffed dolls, but they are just as happy to receive daily toiletries such as toothpaste, soap or washcloths, she said.
“That’s like a dream for anyone who volunteers for Operation Christmas Child and interacts with them,” Hainer said. “It was humbling to be able to physically hand the boxes to the children. Many times, it’s the first gift they have ever received.
“We don’t realize how blessed we are in this country. They barely survive on the necessities.”
The organization’s local chapter in Allegheny, Washington and Greene counties accepts donations throughout the year, and the national group processes them before sending them overseas with other volunteers.
Hainer personally assembled two shoeboxes, one with a jump rope for a girl and another with screwdrivers and tools for a boy. She watched with joy as a little girl opened the box, before Hainer showed her and others how to use the jump rope.
They went to six locations over five days and often were repaid with smiles, songs and dances.
“How does a shoebox make a difference? Just to see the smile on their faces, their songs and dances, and just how thankful and appreciative they were,” Hainer said.
The group, which is under the umbrella of a worldwide humanitarian organization called Samaritan’s Purse, started in 1993 and delivered 28,000 gifts to children that first year. Last year, the group sent more than 9 million shoebox gifts across the world.
With all of those shoeboxes, Hainer found one child’s story particularly moving. He hadn’t spoken a word all day while the group was at his Christian school specializing in the care for special needs kids. Something as simple as blowing soap bubbles for the kids and a gift to the boy were enough for him to begin smiling and talking.
Hainer doesn’t know the circumstances behind his condition, but she recognizes the impact made on him and the others she met on her weeklong trip.
“I really saw the impact that the shoebox made on that child’s life,” she said.
For more information about Operation Christmas Child and its mission, go to www.samaritanspurse.org and click on the link at the bottom of the page. Local residents who wish to volunteer or donate can contact Hainer at chrishainer@gmail.com.