FLEMING ISLAND, Fla. – A 17-year-old Fleming Island student is turning personal hardship into hope for children around the world, packing more than 1,400 gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child while battling a debilitating illness.
Adryana Parris has transformed her home into a gift-packing headquarters, filling shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and personal care items that will be distributed to children in need globally through Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child program.
“I started when I was five years old,” said Parris, who began with just one box. “We just packed one, and then we were like, ‘Mommy, mommy, we want to pack one more.’ So we just packed one more. And then it’s grown since then.”
Parris’ operation has expanded so much that her neighbors have offered their house to store the 1,400 completed boxes — and she’s not finished yet.
“Yeah, we’re not done yet. We’re gonna keep going,” Parris said.
Earlier this year, Parris was diagnosed with Bartonella, a severe illness that forced her to withdraw from school. The condition has dramatically limited her mobility.
“Went from running every day to can’t walk down the driveway,” Parris explained. “For the past three months, I’ve had fevers every day.”
Despite these challenges, Parris finds motivation in success stories from the program, including a memorable meeting with a former shoebox recipient from Venezuela. Photos on her refrigerator showing children receiving boxes she packed serve as daily inspiration.
“It’s taken my mind off my sickness and my circumstances and onto a gift that I can give to someone else,” Parris said. “I would not change the sickness for anything.”
Parris is currently accepting additional donations before the boxes are collected for distribution. If you are interested, you can email cholaloca19@yahoo.com.