Topekan brightens Christmas for thousands of children around the world

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – A Topeka woman is brightening the Christmas holidays for children around the world.

The woman, Crystal Daggett, has been participating in Operation Christmas Child for nearly 25 years.

Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, an organization founded by Franklin Graham, son of the late evangelist Rev. Billy Graham.

She is one of thousands of people across the country who put together shoeboxes full of toys and other items that are then distributed to children around the world.

The goal of the program is to put smiles on the faces of children living in impoverished areas around the world.

“They wanted the kids to have joy — just a ray of sunshine,” Daggeett said. “A little bit of hope in the midst of all their tragedy.”

Daggett is among Topeka-area residents filling shoeboxes with age-appropriate items. The boxes are then taken to a church in Topeka, where they are loaded onto a truck and shipped to Colorado. From there, the boxes are shipped to locations around the globe.

The shoeboxes can contain items from toys to books and toothbrushes to socks.

“I’ve been doing this for years,” Daggetet said. “My grandma started when I was in high school and I got involved in helping her.”

Things really took off when Daggett served in the army in Germany.

“The band did this, and there was actually a healthy competition between units as to who could make the most shoeboxes,” she said. “So I said, ‘I could do that,’ and started making shoeboxes.”

Over the years, Daggett has made thousands of shoeboxes to ship as part of Operation Christmas Child.

How many shoeboxes did she put together?

“Holy smoke!” she said, laughing. “I don’t know. I have to say my biggest stress was in 2020 when the pandemic hit and I ended up doing it on my own. I had a goal – I wanted to do 2,020 shoeboxes, and I achieved my goal.”

Daggett purchases all of the items for the shoeboxes out of his own pocket. She said she can fill a box for about $10, with most items coming from dollar stores around town.

This year, she enlisted the help of neighborhood children to select items and assemble the boxes. Their goal this year is to assemble and ship approximately 85 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.

In addition to the gifts contained in the boxes, the children also have the opportunity to learn about Christ.

“It’s a faith-based program,” Daggett said. “Every child has the opportunity to ultimately complete a program to accept Christ. They don’t have to. It’s all optional. They don’t force anyone to follow religion. It’s all optional.

“But the amazing thing is that whole villages have come to know Christ through this. Because once the kids take it home and are excited about the joy they’ve found, they share it with their family, who then asks, “Okay, what’s it about?” They start asking questions, and by the time you know it, the whole village wants to know about Jesus.

“That’s what it’s all about – it’s all about Jesus,” she said, pointing upward. “In short, it’s all about Jesus.”

Daggett says that’s why she stays involved with Operation Christmas Child year after year.

“This motivates me,” she said, “so I can give back to God what he has given me.”

Operation Christmas Child National Collection Week takes place November 18-25. Shoebox gift drop-off locations in the Topeka area include Northland Christian Church, 3102 NW Topeka Blvd.; First Southern Baptist Church, 1930 SW Gage Blvd.; Auburn Christian Church, 1351 N. Washington St. in Auburn; and Cross Road Community Church, 512 S. Mason St. in Scranton.

Further information about Operation Christmas Child can be found here.

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