Agent gives presents to indigent kids

(L-R) Robin Gerrish, Melissa Goodly, Gerry Morris, Re-Naye Wilmer, Pat Glenn, Linda Morgan, LaDonna Marrazzo, Ardean Green, Loraine Cordule and Joe Wilmer

Robin Gerrish, a Realtor at Rise Real Estate, Inc., is asking for your help in gathering toys and school supplies for children in Third World countries this Christmas season.

Gerrish is the community coordinator for Operation Christmas Child, an organization that collects supplies in decorative shoeboxes for needy children in foreign countries. Christmas Child is an umbrella organization under Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization that provides “spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.”

“These are things most of our children would not want for Christmas, but to the children they’re going to, it is a lot,” Gerrish said. “The bags are filled with hygiene items, soap, wash cloths, school supplies, coloring books, toys and candy.”

This is Gerrish’s second year participating in the 17-year program. She, along with the other agents at Rise, have collected items in the past, but she said she is challenging the community to also give to the cause.

The items are delivered in shoeboxes and are separated by ages, 2 to 14. A $7 dollar shipping fee is also welcome. Gerrish said no money goes to administration or the coordinators, everyone is a volunteer.

Last year, Operation Christmas Child gave 8.3 million shoeboxes to children in more than 130 countries. Recently, the organization has focused its efforts in Haiti, donating more than 200,000 shoeboxes to the country.

“One of the neat things they have going on is Easy Give, where you can follow your shoebox around the globe,” Gerrish said.

Established in 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of “people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love.”

Gerrish is taking donations of toys and school supplies until November 21. Donations can be dropped off at Rise Real Estate, located at 230 Hughes Rd # C. For more information, Gerrish can be reached by phone at 256-374-9139, or by e-mail at robin.gerrish@charter.net.

“This is a mini-foreign mission you’re able to give throughout the world,” she said. “It’s wonderful to bring to children in desperate situations. When they realize that someone does really care, it means a lot.”