DECA is a competitive club at Arrowhead High School that does a charity project called Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child asks people to collect and donate toys and other gifts for kids across the world.

Senior Grace Dai said, “The project reaches a lot of remote areas, donating boxes even if volunteers have to travel by foot, on camel-back, or by row-boat and has donated over 178 million boxes.”

DECA has done Operation Christmas Child for years. According to Dai, the project has been serious for three years. Although DECA members are highly encouraged to participate in the project, it is not a requirement.

DECA started collecting items on November 9, 2020. The boxes for the project were due on November 18, 2020. The same weekend, on November 21, 2020, the boxes are turned into the distribution center to be sent out.

Arrowhead DECA collected over 65 donation boxes from the school and community to send to a distribution center this year.

Senior Addison Burkhart said, “We see a variety of gifts as the boxes vary by gender and age range, but the most common one I’ve seen is a mini teddy bear. Who doesn’t love a plush little bear?”

There are many different items that were allowed to be donated. The items that were donated must be new. On the website Samaritan’s Purse, there are multiple different categories to choose from for gift ideas. Guidelines for the items that are not allowed to be purchased are more focused on when buying and collecting gifts. The gifts have to be in accordance with the shipping rules.

The Samaritan’s Purse website says, “Do not include Candy; toothpaste; gum; used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives, or military figures; chocolate or food; seeds; fruit rolls or other fruit snacks; drink mixes (powdered or liquid); liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans.”