Jess Horn, his brother, and their aging parents were trapped in the top story of their home. A helicopter whirred outside the upstairs window as they prepared to crawl out to safety above the flooding. “Shingles were flying off the roof and everything from the helicopter blades. It was scary. My mother got out, and…
Wildfire Victims in California Experience Hope
Jaime Gomez, 59, heard there might be evacuations in his Altadena, California, neighborhood, situated just below Eaton Canyon in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, because of an approaching wildfire that broke out in the early evening of Jan. 7. So, he went outside to have a look. “I walked out and all I…
Crisis & Disaster Response
Clean Water Offers Hope
A full-scale invasion continues to devastate the Dnipro region of eastern Ukraine, where residents have tragically lost their jobs, property, and all they have worked for their entire lives. But perhaps the worst effects of the war came when the local hydroelectric plant was blown up by enemy forces, leaving people without access to one…
Animals, Agriculture & Livelihoods
Dairy Goats Improve Nutrition for Families
Sister Guylaine’s goats bleat loudly as she walks among them pointing out how many there are now. They started with 25 goats last year, a gift from Samaritan’s Purse, and now there are ten more. She is one of the sisters who serve the community through Little Sisters of Evangelization church in Babonde, a community…
Animals, Agriculture & Livelihoods
Life Is Different Than Before
For years, El Sara’s family lived under the strain of unmet needs. Paying debts felt overwhelming, and providing for her children’s education seemed impossible. “I didn’t know who to rely on. I didn’t know what to do,” she said. “I decided to pray to God.” In the midst of that uncertainty, Samaritan’s Purse came alongside…
Animals, Agriculture & Livelihoods
Greenhouses Help Families Expand Crops, Grow Seeds of Faith
Felix and his wife, Sofia, were used to scraping together a living for their three children from the mountainous fields of Palca, Bolivia, despite harsh rainy seasons and frigid temperatures. The precarious conditions meant experiencing several lean months trying to make ends meet between harvests. When a Samaritan’s Purse agriculture project in the area gave…
Crisis & Disaster Response
Deadly Tornadoes Rumble Through Tennessee
Tornadoes swept across Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Dec. 9, causing extensive property damage, dozens of injuries, and at least six deaths. The most devastated areas are in Montgomery County, around Clarksville, and in Davidson County, around Hendersonville, Madison, and Gallatin. The National Weather Service rated the Clarksville storm as an EF3 tornado, with around 700…
Operation Christmas Child
Stories, Photos, and Videos
Stories, Photos, and Videos Retrieving stories… Show More Helpful Links Shoebox Stories Shoebox Heroes Operation Christmas Child on YouTube Have questions or suggestions? Email occinfo@samaritan.org Share This Page
Operation Christmas Child
Official Shoebox Gift Suggestions
What Goes in My Shoebox? Make Your Gift Fun, Full, and Personalized. For children around the world, a shoebox is often their very first gift. Given together with the Good News of Jesus Christ, it communicates God’s love to a boy or girl in need. So, it is important to make sure your gift is…
‘It’s Unbelievable What You’ve Done for Us’
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER FOR OUR HURRICANE FLORENCE RESPONSE When John Whitfield got word that a TV station in New Bern, N.C.—just one block from his home—was evacuating its staff because of flooding due to Hurricane Florence, he rushed over to investigate. John is a captain with the sheriff’s office in Craven County, and he…
