Operation Christmas Child at Yokota

Yokota Air Base, Japan -- In hopes of spreading holiday cheers, members from Yokota Air Base volunteered their time in a box packing party for Operation Christmas Child, Nov. 6, 2017, at Yokota AB.

OCC is an international project in which shoeboxes are filled with small toys, hygiene items, and school supplies and sent to children affected by war, poverty, natural disasters, famine or disease.

The objective of OCC is to spread holiday cheer with a simple, meaningful gift to children who otherwise might not receive any gift at all.

“Everyone deserve kindness and love,” said Senior Airman Kimberly Pollock, 374th Communications Squadron radio frequency transmission systems journeyman. “Everyone deserves a Christmas gift, even if it’s just a pair of socks or a bar of soap.”

When packing the gift boxes, it starts with simple hygiene products such as a bar of soap or a wash cloth, followed by a stuffed animal, several small toys like jump ropes, race cars, hair bows, playing cards, and school supplies in the shoebox until it’s full.

Finally, the box is topped off with a hand written letter from the person who packed the box and a picture of the chapel community who made the program happen.

“This simple tradition impacts so many children, and plants a seed in their hearts that will hopefully live on and spread kindness and love to others. That’s why it’s important to continue and support OCC,” said Pollock.

This year, all the boxes packed and processed through Yokota will be sent to children to the Philippines by the Yokota AB chapel.

At the packing party alone, 281 boxes were packed by the volunteers, which translates to holiday gifts for 281 children.

“This project is close to my heart and I hope everyone sees the importance one gift can make in someone's life,” Pollock added.