The Chanticleer

Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Photo courtesy of Dr. George Lauderbaug A young Guatemalan girl receives her shoebox, which contains everyday items that bring joy to the impoverished.

Imagine a world where a shoebox is a treasure chest, and the smallest gifts are riches to be cherished.

Dr. George Lauderbaugh, associate professor of history at Jacksonville State University, no longer has to imagine such a place.

In 2003, he traveled to Guatemala and witnessed the depth of the nation's poverty with his own eyes.

Lauderbaugh is teaming up with the History Club and Phi Alpha Theta, which is the international history honor society, for the sixth time to host a shoebox gift drive for impoverished Guatemalan children.

"You really see the need when you visit Guatemala," Lauderbaugh said. "There are so many people--about 60 percent of the population--who live in poverty."

After hearing of the shoebox program through his involvement with Partners of America, Lauderbaugh decided to try the project at JSU. Last year, organizations across the state sent about 7,000 stuffed shoeboxes to Guatemala, and 325 of them came from JSU.

This year, Phi Alpha Theta secretary Karlie Johnson said that the co-sponsoring organizations are hoping to meet and perhaps surpass that goal.

"We don't want to decrease, we want to increase," Johnson said.

So far, the organization has accumulated about 70 boxes for this year's drive, said Lauderbaugh. The deadline for turning in donations is Dec. 14.

Lauderbaugh explained that the best way students, faculty or others can contribute is by putting together a shoebox filled with small, new items. Stuffed animals, picture books and solar calculators are just a few of possible gifts.

Johnson said that for these kids, the simplest of gifts will be a reason to celebrate.

"I don't know what it's like not to have a toothbrush or clean socks, but these children do," Johnson said. "To get little things like a yo-yo or jacks or some little toy that they don't have will really brighten up their day."

Any kinds of liquids, medicines, perishable foods, toy weapons, breakable items are not allowed.

Officers of the two organizations will be working together to go through each box to ensure that no such items make it through. Johnson explained that this year is the first time that they will also be required to write out an itemized list of the contents of every single donated shoebox.

"It is time-consuming, but it is well worth the effort to make sure everything is there and they get there," Johnson said.

In the past, Lauderbaugh said the organizations have received little feedback from the shoebox recipients--and for good reason. He explained that the boxes are given to people so poor that they could not afford to buy a stamp to send a thank you.

Yet he remains unfazed by the lack of accolades.

"The true spirit of giving is giving freely, knowing you won't get any direct thank you," Lauderbaugh said. "It is giving without expecting anything in return."

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Suggested items for donation:
• Toys: dolls, yo-yos, stuffed animals, balls, harmonicas, kazoos, Slinky.
• School supplies: pens, pencils and sharpeners, solar calculators, colored pencils, crayons, coloring books and notepads
• Other: socks, hard candy, ball caps, mints, gum, lollipops, costume jewelry, hair clips, sunglasses, soap, toothbrush and paste, combs and picture books.
• Not allowed:<.b> used items, toy weapons, perishable items, liquids (like shampoo), medicines or breakable items.
• For more information, call Dr. Lauderbaugh at 782-8044. Donations can be taken to his office in Stone Center, room 309.

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A devout Christian, Bethany Harbison is the Copy Editor of The Chanticleer. She can be reached at (256) 782-8192 or at chantycopy@gmail.com. You can read her weekly blog on faith at bethanyharbison.blogspot.com.