Live Oak —
In this day and age, not many young children would pass up receiving presents on their birthday or on Christmas. But a seven-year-old boy with a big heart from Suwannee County has done just that. To celebrate his eighth birthday, Dillan Hillwig is asking his friends and family to pack gifts for children less fortunate. Through Operation Christmas Child, Dillan is joining tens of thousands of people across the US to fill empty shoe boxes with toys, school supplies and necessity items for impoverished children around the world.
Dillan told us “I want to help other kids that don’t have anything”.
His goal is 100 gift-filled shoeboxes. If anyone would like to donate items for his shoeboxes, they can reach Dillan’s mom Kristie Hillwig after 5:30 p.m. at 386-776-2567.
Dillan learned about Operation Christmas Child from local resident, Gwenn Evans, who packs shoeboxes at Philadelphia Baptist Church.
“Whenever he decides to volunteer or work with some kind of ministry, he gives 100 percent,” said Operation Christmas Child volunteer, Colleen Ruehl.
In 2012, Operation Christmas Child expects to reach a milestone—collecting and delivering shoe boxes to more than 100 million children since the project began in 1993. Suwannee residents hope to contribute 18,215 shoe box gifts to this year’s global collection goal of nine million gift-filled shoe boxes in order to help surpass the 100-millionth shoe box milestone.
Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week began this Monday, Nov. 12 and will continue until Monday, Nov. 19. Packed gifts are being dropped off at 17 collection sites in the Suwannee Valley area. To find a drop off location near you, visit www.samaritanspurse.org. Once dropped off, the shoe boxes are processed, prepared and transported to suffering children in more than 100 countries using whatever means necessary—trains, airplanes, boats, elephants, bikes and even dog sleds—to get the shoe boxes into the hands of needy kids.
Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, is the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind. Through the power of a simple gift and the message of hope through Jesus Christ, children learn they are loved and not forgotten. For many of these children, the shoe box gift will be the first gift they’ve ever received.
By using special tracking technology, participants can “follow” their shoe box and discover the country in which their gift will be hand-delivered to a child in need. To register your shoe box gift, use the “Follow Your Box” form online.
Anyone can participate in Operation Christmas Child. For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, or to find the nearest drop-off site, call 407-852-3727 or visit www.SamaritansPurse.org/OCC.
Features
Related Photos
-
To celebrate his eighth birthday, Dillan Hillwig is asking his friends and family to pack gifts for children less fortunate.
-
Dillan Hillwig helps to fill empty shoe boxes with toys, school supplies and necessity items for needy children around the world.
-
Dillan Hillwig, left helps his great-grandmother Sally Christopher fill empty shoe boxes with items for needy children around the world.
Discussion
THIS WEEK: Suwannee County resident celebrates eighth birthday by giving to children in need
Dillan Hillwig asks friends to pack shoe box gifts for needy children around the world during National Collection Week, Nov. 12-19
- Features
-
-
Big turnout in Branford for Viva Florida 500 celebration
-
ACV presents Treasures of the Suwannee
A stage production about the early years of Dowling Park
-
71st Soil Stewardship Banquet
The Suwannee County Conservation District had their 71st Soil Stewardship Banquet on April 30 to celebrate Soil Stewardship Week. This annual event recognizes Suwannee County students and farmers for their ongoing dedication to learning about and conserving natural resources.
-
Era gone by
Local gal recounts Suwannee County in the ‘40s
-
Teacher, students to share the stage
Will perform in FGC spring production of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’
-
Chapel of the Woods-A unique worship experience
Mother’s Day Sing is Saturday, May 11
Bring a covered dish and a lawn chair
-
Brant Rutland: An American hero
Live Oak native injured in Afghanistan while serving in Army, now recovering in a D.C. hospital
-
Live Oak's Jeremiah Ross chosen to perform at Suwannee River Jam
This talented teenager is known as a miracle child by many and will perform at 3 p.m. Friday, May 3 in the Amphitheater and at various times Saturday at the SOS Café
-
Florida Georgia Line - From humble beginnings to superstars
ACM’s New Artist/Duo of The Year
Who: Florida Georgia Line
Where: Suwannee River Jam at The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park , begins today
When: Saturday night at 8:15
-
Storm preparedness: Are we prepared financially?
TS Debby: A multi-million dollar disaster
- More Features Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
