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This year, my son Sebastian would have been turning 18.
Seb passed away suddenly in June 2016 from a rare and unexpected aneurysm when he was just 8 years old. He had such a joyful, generous heart and was always eager to help others. One of the things we especially loved doing together was packing shoeboxes for children through Operation Christmas Child .
To honour what would have been his 18th birthday, I want to pack 18 shoeboxes for boys aged 5–9—the same age Seb was when he died. These boxes will be filled with school supplies, hygiene items, toys, and fun surprises, and then sent around the world to children living in vulnerable situations.
Why Operation Christmas Child?
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse. It’s a hands-on way for us to demonstrate God’s love to children in need by filling shoeboxes with gifts. These boxes are collected and distributed in the name of Jesus Christ, bringing hope and joy to children who may never have received a gift before.
But the impact goes deeper than the shoebox. Each child is invited to hear the message of God’s love, and together with the local church worldwide, Operation Christmas Child shares the Good News of Jesus Christ. Every box is a seed of the Gospel planted in a child’s life.
How you can join me in honouring Seb:
- Donate financially – I will be purchasing many of the items myself, and every contribution will go directly towards filling these 18 shoeboxes.
- $12.50 covers shipping for one box.
- $40–$50 fills a box with quality gifts.
That said, truly any amount helps—whether it’s $5 or $50. Every bit contributes to a box being filled with love and joy.
- Donate items (local friends) – If you’d like to personally choose something to include, please message me first so we can make sure the boxes are balanced and full of variety.
- Pray – Pray that each child who receives a shoebox will not only experience the joy of a gift but will also encounter the life-changing love of Jesus.
✨ And here’s something really special…
A very kind and generous sponsor has stepped forward and offered to personally cover all the GoFundMe associated charges. That means every single dollar you donate will go directly into purchasing items for the shoeboxes.
This is a big deal, and I’m so thankful for it. It means you can give with full confidence, knowing your entire gift goes straight into filling shoeboxes in Sebastian’s honour, and into the hands of children who will experience both joy and the hope of Jesus through this ministry.
The collection period for OCC is mid-October, so I’ll need all contributions by early October to allow time for shopping and packing.
Thank you for standing with me in remembering Seb in such a special way. My hope is that through these 18 shoeboxes, not only will 18 boys receive joy-filled gifts, but many will come to know the greatest gift of all—Jesus Christ.
Organisator
