Resident at Life Care Center of Lawrenceville paints toys for Operation Christmas Child

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (Aug. 5, 2009) – Operation Christmas Child is the kind of project that involves people of all ages – from school children and their parents to the elderly wanting to make an impact on younger generations.

August “Gus” Lang, a resident at Life Care Center of Lawrenceville, Ga., is participating this year in a unique way. According to Sherry Forester, activities director at the facility, he has always enjoyed arts and crafts and has recently been painting toys for children.

Now that facilities across the country are gearing up for this ministry, he is turning his painting into a Santa’s workshop project. Lang’s goal is to paint more than 100 wooden trains, planes, cars and boats during the month of August – ambitious, perhaps, but certainly not impossible for this dedicated man. 
“Gus is a very active individual!” said Forester. “He loves the thought of children receiving and playing with these toys.”

Operation Christmas Child is conducted by Samaritan’s Purse, a world relief organization headquartered in Boone, N.C., and headed by Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham. Participants fill a shoe box (or sturdy box of comparable size) with a mix of small toys, hard candy, school supplies and personal hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap. They are also encouraged to include a picture of themselves to create a personal connection. In addition, Samaritan’s Purse asks that participants tape $7 to the inside of the box top to cover shipping and transportation charges. 
This year’s shoe box drive will run through Nov. 23, and Life Care Center of Lawrenceville, located at 210 Collins Industrial Way, is a drop-off point for completed boxes. It is one of three skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in Georgia operated by Life Care Centers of America.

Founded in 1976, Life Care is a nationwide health care company. With headquarters in Cleveland, Tenn., Life Care operates more than 220 nursing, subacute and Alzheimer’s centers in 28 states. For more information about Life Care, visit www.lcca.com.