Operation Christmas Child shoebox recipient, 10, now giving back

CorbinRalphdoesn't remember much about receiving a shoebox filled with gifts whenhe was young, buthe knows the importance of giving and now helpspack the boxesfor others who are struggling.

Thousands of shoeboxes from Newfoundland and Labrador lift the spirits ofless fortunate children around the world as part of Operation Christmas Child.

Ralph, 10, received one of those shoeboxes while living in a foster home in Thailand.

I love just helping kids that need and giving to the kids.- Corbin Ralph

"They help people that don't have many things and they go to children all around the world,"Corbin told the St. John's Morning Show.

"I love just helping kids that need and giving to the kids."

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Hewas adopted byparentsFreeman and Tina Ralph when he was 20 months old and now lives inPortugal Cove-St.Philip's.

'It made it a reality'

Corbin'sfather Freeman said he and his wife have been filling boxes for more than15 years.

After going through photos ofCorbin from his time in Thailand, they learnedhe was givenhis own shoeboxwhen he was around one.

Freeman said they've always been motivated to fill shoeboxes, but having Corbin puta face to the cause and made it evenmore important to them.

"When you have a child that's now sitting in your own home ... it made it a reality and it became a compelling passion for us and we'll do what we can to motivate and inspire and make this as big as it can possibly be,"saidFreeman.

Operation Christmas Childis a project of Samaritan's Purse,which is a humanitarian organization.

In 2014, Canadians donated more than 700,000Operation Christmas Childshoeboxes to childrenaround the world.

Sharing Christmas blessings

According to DavidYetmanwithOperation ChristmasChild, people in the provincefilled over 34,000 of those boxes.

"As you know Newfoundlanders and Labradoriansare very giving people and about 1 in 15 fill a shoebox," said Yetman.

"The idea is that we have many blessings in Christmas as families and it's just a way to share some of that blessing with children overseas."

The empty shoeboxes aredistributed in earlyOctoberto befilled with toys and other gift items such as school supplies, and hygiene products like toothbrushes.

The group also recommendsadding apersonal note and photo so the children know who it's from.

In St. John's, boxes are available at Second Cup locations or thorough the Elim Pentecostal Church.

Filled boxes can also be dropped at these locations.

National collection week began Monday, while collection in St. John's and the Avalon region began Wednesday.

Yetmanaddedall boxes in the area have been given out. Hismessage now is that it's important to send them back.