WILMINGTON, N.C. — Operation Christmas Child happened this year like it has for the past 20 years. People from all over the U.S. get involved with the program by packing holiday shoeboxes that are sent to children in need around the world.

Kelly Brown has been involved with Operation Christmas Child since she started packing boxes herself as a teenager. Now she's been working as a volunteer for the past eight years and says she's always impressed by the outpouring of support from dedicated communities.

“Since I have been doing it eight years it's always stayed consistent, the good in the community comes out and the dedication people have to the ministry, it's heartwarming,” Brown says.

However with the pandemic impacting people's abilities to gather and pack boxes, she wasn't sure what the turnout would be this year. Typically stuffing the boxes with hygiene items as well as games and toys is a group effort, but this year Brown says they encouraged people to either pack the boxes from home or utilize the virtual box option.

Logistics coordinator Angela Talley said they recognize that people's ability to be out and shop may be different this year. The program's virtual shoebox allows people to customize a box online by picking items to go inside, and then a volunteer, like Brown, packs the physical shoebox for them.

“Because of the COVID-19 situation we have had to change our complete set up this year,” Talley says. “Folks maybe have not been able to get out as much and don't have as much time to shop or afraid to be out and shop.”

She and her team have done everything they could to make the program as accessible as possible for people who still want to be involved. Her favorite part is that people can now be missionaries without ever leaving their couch.

Brown says the needs of children in third-world countries don't disappear during a global pandemic, and if anything, they're heightened. She's hopeful that the boxes will help thousands of kids this year.

“I just feel so blessed knowing that I get to see the community come together and know that so many lives are impacted by the one box you pack,” Brown says.