Las Vegas Volunteers Pack 15,519 Shoebox Gifts for Global Children Through Operation Christmas Child

More than 535 volunteers gathered at Remnant Ministries in Las Vegas on November 8, 2025, for Lion Wholesale's annual Shoebox Packing Party, preparing 15,519 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes over six hours. The event represents a significant community effort to deliver gifts and messages of hope to children in need globally, continuing an annual tradition for both the church and the children's wholesale toy company.

Families, church groups, schools, and individuals from across Southern Nevada participated in the packing party, embodying Lion Wholesale's mission to serve others and create global impact. Sandy Ludwick, Co-Owner of Lion Wholesale, expressed gratitude for the volunteers and the event's significance, stating that more than fifteen thousand children would hear that Jesus loves them, they matter, and they are seen through these gifts.

Community support played a crucial role in the event's success, with SOS Radio helping spread awareness and providing uplifting worship music throughout the day. Volunteers received meals from local partners Cactus Jacks Outlaw Grill and Slanging Tacos, offering moments of rest and fellowship during the intensive packing session. A fleet of trailers loaded with colorful shoeboxes departed the church that evening, beginning their journey to children worldwide.

The shoebox initiative represents more than just gift-giving; it serves as a vehicle for sharing positive messages and demonstrating care to children facing challenging circumstances globally. For those unable to attend this year's event, Lion Wholesale encourages community participation in future packing parties and ongoing support through their online toy purchasing platform at https://lionwholesale.com/.

Lion Wholesale's commitment to Operation Christmas Child stems from their family-owned business philosophy centered on sharing God's love through carefully selected gifts. What began as a mission to test toys for shoeboxes has evolved into an enterprise dedicated to providing fun, affordable, quality gifts and sports equipment that demonstrate care and positivity to children globally.

The annual packing party demonstrates how local community efforts can create substantial international impact, with each shoebox representing both material support and emotional encouragement for recipients. The event's scale—processing over fifteen thousand units in a single day—highlights the organizational capacity developed through years of partnership between Lion Wholesale, Remnant Ministries, and Southern Nevada volunteers.

Such community-driven initiatives provide models for how businesses, religious organizations, and volunteers can collaborate effectively to address global needs while strengthening local bonds. The shoeboxes' journey from Las Vegas to children worldwide illustrates how localized actions can create international connections, delivering both practical gifts and messages of hope across cultural and geographical boundaries.