Kansas Middle School Ends Operation Christmas Child

[rlvaughn]

“The [Liberty Middle School located in Pratt, Kansas] must cease participation in Operation Christmas Child or taking any other actions promoting Christianity like including religious references over morning announcements," the [Freedom from Religion Foundation] FFRF said in their Nov. 3 letter.

“While it is laudable for a public school to promote student involvement in the community by volunteering and donating to charitable organizations, the school cannot use that goal as an avenue to fund a religious organization with a religious mission,” FFRF wrote in their letter...

On Nov. 7, Superintendent Tony Helfrich responded to the group, writing the district was discontinuing its students’ participation in Operation Christmas Child.

Kansas Middle School Ends Operation Christmas Child After Atheist Complaint

Several years ago when the American Humanist Association was targeting some schools over this issue, Samaritan’s Purse explained their primary goal with Operation Christmas Child was to work with churches, but that they did not discriminate against others who wished to participate

“Therefore, Operation Christmas Child’s goal is to to generate participation in and through local churches and like-minded groups ... Of course, any person or group is welcome to participate in packing shoebox gifts if they so choose.”