Children in Northern Iraq who were displaced by ISIS will become recipients of Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. A total of 60,000 shoeboxes containing toys, clothes, school supplies, and others were airlifted by Samaritan's Purse to the refuge camps last December 10.
According to Randy Ribble, Domestic Director of Operation Christmas Child, most of these children have never had the experience of receiving a gift even under normal circumstances. Thus, giving them gifts now that they have been displaced from their families and homes will help boost their hope, especially when most of them are left with very little or no belongings. The shoeboxes were packed by people from different parts of the world, such as Australia, Holland, Canada, United States, and Finland.
Most of these refugee children are presently living in tents and they endure difficult conditions. Although the gifts will not change the children's situation, they will be a reminder that people out there love them.