By: Sharon Aron Baron

Two sisters have a goal of raising $1,000 to fill at least 100 shoeboxes for the holidays to be given to less fortunate children from around the globe. 

Gianna and Angelina Brier, sisters who attend 6th and 8th grade at Westglades Middle School in Parkland, asked for the public’s help last week at the Publix at Sawgrass Center in Coral Springs for Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas outreach of its kind. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to over 124 million children affected by war, poverty, natural disasters, and other crises in more than 150 countries and territories.

According to the website, those that receive the shoeboxes filled with gifts also receive the “Good News of Jesus Christ” as well as a 12-lesson discipleship program, “The Greatest Journey,” that helps boys and girls learn what it means to follow the Lord and share their faith with others.

After learning about the charity when the family was visiting Boone, NC, over the summer, which is the headquarters of Samaritan’s Purse, the family soon became involved in the “Serve the City” event with Church by the Glades and volunteered to fill boxes there. 

“It was a wonderful experience, and that was when the girls said that they wanted to help more kids,” said their mom Theresa Brier. “The girls immediately planned and organized the fundraiser at Publix and will continue to raise funds to meet their goal of providing 100 kids with gifts for the Christmas holiday.” 

The sisters will be hosting a shoebox-filling party for friends to join in on the experience in early November.  They will be filling each box with essential items, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, school supplies, and a toy just in time for the holidays. 

If your child would like to be involved with this project, contact Theresa Brier at (954) 755-0135

Learn more about Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child.