Youth with a Passion ~ Behind the Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes: Stories of Sharing

Today's Behind the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox story shows us that we are never too young to dedicate ourselves to a project we are passionate about.  Cora has found a creative way to fund her passion (I've included several pictures of her products from her blog for you to see).

Hello! My name is Cora, I am 14 years old, and I hand-make bookmarks and jewelry to raise money for Samaritan's Purse / Operation Christmas Child. I blog
about my progress for my current fundraiser at b3 bookmarks.  UPDATE 2017:  Cora's blog is now private.

Most of her bookmarks run $2.50 each.

How were you first introduced? I remember my parents helping me pack shoeboxes for OCC when I was really little. My sister and I would each pack a box for a child our age with things that we knew we would like to receive. I learned about the other projects that Samaritan's Purse does when I was about 10.

When did you first start? I can't remember the first time I packed a shoebox (probably because I was so young), but I first started fundraising three years ago. I had been saving the small amount of money I was making for something special but I didn't really know what. We received a Samaritan's Purse gift catalog near the end of October that year and I knew where the money I had saved was meant to go. I had saved $20 in October, and by the beginning of December when I sent the money to Samaritan's Purse, it had multiplied into $83. I had a renewed motivation that this was what I could do to serve God at this stage in my life.

What is your favorite thing about it? I love knowing that the work I do will help someone else and (I hope and pray) bring them closer to God.

What is your personal OCC specialty? I continue to do a fundraiser with the bookmarks and jewelry that I handcraft. This year, I set a goal of $250 and am excited to announce that I have reached it!

Why do you do it? I'll be honest, sometimes I wonder "Why am I doing this? Is it even worth it? Is this truly making a difference in someone's life?" But I have faith that it will make the difference that God wants it to. Even if it's not a difference that I ever see, even if it's a difference that most would see as insignificant, I know that it is in God's hands, and he is able to work miracles.

I love the work of OCC and Samaritan's Purse. I know how much they help people, and I have read amazing stories of the hope they have brought all over the world. I feel truly blessed to be able to be a part of it.

If you would like to order something from Cora please contact her at:  hightop.bookworm(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Here are two bookmarks I special ordered from Cora.  She designed them from information I gave her.

I love making the pillowcase dresses for girls in need, so I asked Cora
to design a book mark reflecting this passion.  Love it!!
Image from Cora's blog.

I asked her for an Operation Christmas Child bookmark for a Christmas gift.
I purchased Franklin's Graham's new book about OCC for my in-laws as
part of an OCC themed Christmas gift this year--her final bookmark is
perfect to include with it.
Image from Cora's blog.

I "met" Cora thru her mother's blog Hopeful Threads where Kristy provides a charity crafting challenge each month to her readers and they join together to fill a need.

You can read thru the stories in this series that have already been published here:  Why I Pack Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes.

If you have a story to tell or know of someone who would be perfect for this series, check out this page with all the information you need to know to guest post:  Tell Your Shoe Box Sharing Story.  I would love to hear your story.