Veronica Miranda, who lived in Mexico, received a shoebox when she was a young girl.
It changed her life.
Miranda will tell how in local presentations. She will be in Poulsbo Aug. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Calvary Chapel, 23300 Stottlemeyer Road NE. On Aug. 4 at 1 p.m. she will be at Silverdale United Methodist Church, 9982 Silverdale Road NW. Later that day, Miranda will be in Port Orchard at 6:30 p.m. at Grace Bible Church in Port Orchard, 7070 Bethel Burley Road SE.
She is spreading the word about Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse. The operation hopes to fill more than 170,315 shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and hygiene items—contributing to the global goal of reaching 11 million children.
Growing up, Miranda moved between San Antonio, Texas, and Mexico, as she watched her family fall apart. She lost her father to alcoholism, her youngest brother to brain injuries after he fell off a bunk bed, and her mother to prison in Mexico on drug charges.
Miranda was very angry, thinking if there even was a God he clearly didn’t love her.
At age 13, living in an orphanage in Mexico, Miranda received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift. Inside was a letter that read, “Know that you have a family here that is praying for you.” It was exactly what she needed to hear.
During Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week Nov. 14-21, Bainbridge Islanders can bring gift-filled shoeboxes to multiple dropoff locations to be announced in late October.
For more information, call 253-572-1155, or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. Those who prefer online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.
