For the third year running, Lugbill Supply Center in Archbold, Ohio, provided everything necessary for community members to give Christmas gifts to children throughout the world who are impacted by war, poverty, natural disasters and disease.
Deb Nafziger, co-owner of the business, has packed shoeboxes full of small gifts as part of Operation Christmas Child with her family for many years. Operation Christmas Child is a program that Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization, coordinates annually.
Nafziger’s idea three years ago was to make participating in Operation Christmas Child as easy as possible for other community members who want to buy gifts for needy children.
Once a year, Lugbill Supply Center orders products it doesn’t typically stock. The staff sets out the items—which include inflatable balls, toiletries, small toys and school supplies— on tables for customers to buy, pack and then donate to Operation Christmas Child.
The store posts a list of items Samaritan’s Purse recommends people donate, offers a 20 percent discount on the products and provides free cardboard boxes to pack.
People bring their children and grandchildren to the store to buy products and fill the boxes together, Nafziger says.
After the six-week collection period, store manager Dan Beck delivers the packed boxes to a local church, along with money community members and the store donate to pay for shipping.
“I go more by my heart than my business sense for this project,” Nafziger says. “We’re really doing it to provide a service to the community to fill these shoeboxes.”
