Sentinel News,
When Tomas Hollenbach was 8 years old, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and no chance of survival. Instead of letting this cancer get him down, Tomas wanted to use his situation to bless and serve others. He began selling lemonade in his front yard to raise money and awareness for Operation Christmas Child.
After Tomas passed away, his parents decided to continue his legacy of service, by expanding the lemonade stand to a city-wide event. This year, nearly 200 Salt Lake City children and adults sold lemonade on August 16, raising more than $5,000 for Operation Christmas Child, and spreading the story of Tomas’ life.
Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, transforms empty shoeboxes into gifts by filling them with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items, and delivering them to children in need all around the world. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 113 million children in more than 150 countries. For many of these children, this gift may be the only one they have ever received. This year, Northern Utah residents hope to contribute more than 18,000 filled shoeboxes to the global collection goal of 10 million shoeboxes.
If you are interested in speaking with the local volunteers who planned and facilitated this way for Salt Lake City residents to give back, please let me know. I am happy to coordinate any media interests or interviews. For more information about Operation Christmas Child, visit www.samaritanspurse.org. Please feel free to get in touch with me if there is anything else I can do. I can be reached via email at rstewart@samaritan.org or by phone at 303-745-9719. For your convenience I have attached a release with all the information about this event, and a photo of several volunteers serving at one of the lemonade stands. Thank you for your consideration in sharing this event with your readers.
Rachel Stewart
Media Relations Associate
Operation Christmas Child
SALT LAKE CITY LEMONADE STANDS GIVE HOPE TO CHILDREN WORLDWIDE
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Sept. 16, 2014 — Tomas Hollenbach was only 8 years old when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and doctors gave him no chance of survival. Instead of letting this cancer bring him down, however, Tomas decided to use his situation to bless and serve others. Through a simple lemonade stand in his front yard, he began raising money for Operation Christmas Child and bringing awareness to the millions of children in need.
When Tomas passed away, his family decided to continue his legacy of service by hosting lemonade stands around Salt Lake City, with all the proceeds going towards packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. The event has grown from just nine stands in 2012 to 30 stands this year, with nearly 200 adults and children participating, selling lemonade and sharing Tomas’ story.
Tomas’ parents, Greg and Dulce Hollenbach, hope to see this event continue to grow in years to come.
“If God gives you lemons, make lemonade!” said Greg. “God used a willing boy with a cross around his neck to tell everyone ‘Jesus loves everyone, even you!’ We continue the legacy he started for us.”
The event is designed to give parents, grandparents and kids the opportunity to serve together, reaching out to their community and impacting the lives of children all around the world. This year’s event, held August 16, raised more than $5000, all going towards this simple, but impactful ministry. The Hollenbachs- and many other area volunteers- will use the money to fill shoeboxes with gifts that will be delivered to children suffering from war, poverty, natural disaster, and disease.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 113 million children in more than 150 countries. In 2014, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect more than 18,000 gift-filled shoeboxes in Northern Utah to support a worldwide goal of 10 million shoeboxes by National Collection Week, November 17-24.
Tomas’ legacy was to challenge his community to serve others. His dedication and faith, and the efforts of those continuing his mission, will give countless children the opportunity to know they are loved. For more information about the lemonade stands, Operation Christmas Child, or local shoebox drop-off sites, call 801-450-7234 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org.
