On the football field, Tyrell Johnson’s job is to knock people down, especially speedy wide receivers scampering toward the end zone.

This past Tuesday, the Minnesota Vikings safety had a completely different game plan—to build people up.

Clad in their football jerseys, Johnson and five of his teammates joined over 20 children for a shoe box packing party at the Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis on November 17. The packing party was organized by the Operation Christmas Child Twin Cities Area Team.

“The Minnesota Vikings helped bring us all together,” said Connie Slama, the Operation Christmas Child Media Coordinator for the Upper Midwest region. “The Ronald McDonald House helps children in need, and that’s what we do too. It made sense to work as a team.”

A team effort comes naturally for Vikings players Tyrell Johnson, Artis Hicks, Colt Anderson, Garret Mills, Kenny Onatolu, and Jon Cooper. The Vikings are enjoying one of their best seasons in years, and these athletes wanted to give back to their community by helping those who are going through difficult times—both here at home and overseas.

For the past 30 years, the Ronald McDonald House has provided a “home-away-from-home” for families whose children are being treated for serious illness at hospitals in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. The 48-bedroom complex provides lodging and meals at a reduced rate, and enables families to spend time with their children.

“The children here at the Ronald McDonald House have an acute understanding of what it means to go through difficult times,” said Persis Elkins, Director of Family Services for the Twin Cities facility. “Who else could put more love into this project than them?”

That love was evident Tuesday afternoon as excited children filled box after box with notebooks, toothbrushes, stuffed animals, peppermint candies, and an assortment of other items. Their parents and the football players supervised, but it was the children who insisted on doing the bulk of the work.

In less than an hour, 70 shoe boxes had been packed!

“We gave these kids the opportunity just to be kids today,” Slama said. “The parents were just beaming to see their kids so happy, knowing they were doing something special to help other hurting children in the world.”

Among those expressing their gratitude was the family of a 3 ½-month-old baby who has remained hospitalized since birth.

“This is going to be our Christmas this year,” the mother said. “With our child sick, we don’t have the time or desire to go shopping. We are just too tired. But by coming here today, you gave us Christmas.”

Each child received a white Minnesota Vikings cap, which they wore proudly at the packing party. Players’ cards and team license plate covers were also given out.

Operation Christmas Child representatives from the Upper Midwest office met with Vikings officials in March to discuss sponsorship of the project. The first event took place in August, when an Operation Christmas Child Day was promoted during the team’s preseason home opener. Fans were asked to bring school supplies for shoe boxes, and donations were also accepted.

The items collected at the game, as well as the donations used to buy more shoe box items, made this week’s packing party possible.

Many of the shoe boxes were donated by the players themselves, so the boxes were a tad larger than the standard size box.

“Their boxes were cavernous,” said Slama, laughing. “The smallest was for a size 13 shoe. We were able to pack a lot of things into those boxes.”

The Vikings organization and players were not the only ones who contributed to the project. A publisher gave away notepads and books. Another company donated pajamas. One individual personally made hats and fleece mittens for the boxes.

Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell also has become involved in Operation Christmas Child by doing public service announcements and radio interviews.

Slama hopes the partnership with the Minnesota Vikings and Ronald McDonald House will become a long-standing one. By the looks on the faces of the children, the packing party offers a preview of how excited kids overseas will be when they receive these shoe box gifts.

“This has been a special day for the children and their parents,” Slama said. “Everyone was joyful.”

National Collection Week continues through Monday, November 23. Boxes can also be mailed after that day to our headquarters at the following address:

Samaritan’s Purse
Operation Christmas Child
P.O. Box 3000
801 Bamboo Road
Boone, NC 28607

Samaritan's Purse , United States , Operation Christmas Child , A Winning Combination