Detlor Insurance packs boxes for ‘Operation Christmas Child’

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
For the last eight years, the staff at Detlor Insurance in Belleville has been taking part in a holiday project called “Operation Christmas Child.”
The project sends shoebox presents to needy children around the world – and reminds them of the real meaning of Christmas.
Duane Detlor said throughout the year staff members at the insurance agency purchase, with their own resources, toothpaste when it’s on sale, socks, T-shirts, underwear, tennis balls, calculators, games, and whatever else they can come up with – all in volume.
They know the Christmas box could be the only thing a child receives this Christian holiday, so they try to make it special.
Last week after packing 48 shoeboxes, the Detlor Insurance company paid to send them off to Operation Christmas Child so they could be distributed through churches and ministries. The donation is $7 per box to help with the shipping and handling.
Each box gets a barcode, so the boxes can be followed online as they make their way to children around the globe.
“So often the news is negative,” said Detlor, explaining why he agreed to tell his company’s positive story that they have kept quiet until now.
“If we tell our story, others might be inspired to do something positive, too,” he said.
Besides Duane, his sister DeAn Detlor and brother Kevin Detlor, others on the staff that take part in the program are Kelli Hamilton, Sue English, and Mary Bradley.
Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, has been in existence since 1993 and has delivered present boxes to 100 million disadvantaged children in 130 countries.
On Thursday, Nov. 7, on his 95th birthday, evangelist Billy Graham will present a special program on Fox News channels at 10 p.m. EST from his living room in North Carolina.
Graham will present “The Cross: One Last Message to America.”
The message is suggested to be a part of a packing party for Operation Christmas Child. The message also will be carried on other TV stations.