Former Russian orphans and now U.S. teens, Valery and Marina, are sharing hope with kids they’ve never met this Christmas—orphans overseas.  They are giving back to the project that  filled them with hope and love in the form of a gift-filled shoe box.

Valery and Marina were 9 and 6 years old, respectively, when their Russian orphanage received Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts filled with toys, school supplies, necessity items and notes of encouragement. “When I received the shoe box gift, I remember feeling so happy that someone in the world loved me.  It gave me hope and a sense of worthiness,” said 16-year-old Valery. 

Four years later, Valery and Marina were adopted by a family in the U.S. and are now packing shoe box gifts for other kids just like themselves.  While they likely won’t ever meet the kids they are helping, they know first-hand the impact of a simple shoe box gift.