Utah volunteers start early in helping to brighten Christmas

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Boy Scouts and other volunteers pack boxes as Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy Utah, hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party as his Eagle Scout Project at the Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy Utah, prepares boxes during an Operation Christmas Child packing party at Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. The event was part of his Eagle Scout Project. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Boxes wait to be packed as Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy Utah, hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party as his Eagle Scout Project at the Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Three-year-old Rhyker Allred places his Christmas gift box on the completed stack as Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy Utah, hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party as his Eagle Scout Project at the Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
Jared Goodell, 13, of Sandy, prepares boxes during an Operation Christmas Child packing party at Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. The event was part of his Eagle Scout Project. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
Three-year-old Rhyker Allred places his Christmas gift box on the completed stack as Jared Goodell, 13, of Sandy, hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party as his Eagle Scout Project at the Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy, watches as volunteers pack boxes during an Operation Christmas Child packing party at Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. The event was part of his Eagle Scout Project. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event.

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Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Boy Scouts and other volunteers pack boxes as Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy Utah, hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party as his Eagle Scout Project at the Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy Utah, prepares boxes during an Operation Christmas Child packing party at Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. The event was part of his Eagle Scout Project. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy Utah, prepares boxes during an Operation Christmas Child packing party at Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. The event was part of his Eagle Scout Project. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Boy Scouts and other volunteers pack boxes as Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy Utah, hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party as his Eagle Scout Project at the Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Boy Scouts and other volunteers pack boxes as Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy Utah, hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party as his Eagle Scout Project at the Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Boxes wait to be packed as Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy Utah, hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party as his Eagle Scout Project at the Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Boy Scouts and other volunteers pack boxes as Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy Utah, hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party as his Eagle Scout Project at the Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Three-year-old Rhyker Allred places his Christmas gift box on the completed stack as Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy Utah, hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party as his Eagle Scout Project at the Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Jared Goodell, 13, of Sandy, prepares boxes during an Operation Christmas Child packing party at Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. The event was part of his Eagle Scout Project. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Three-year-old Rhyker Allred places his Christmas gift box on the completed stack as Jared Goodell, 13, of Sandy, hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party as his Eagle Scout Project at the Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Jared Goodell, 13, of Sandy, prepares boxes during an Operation Christmas Child packing party at Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. The event was part of his Eagle Scout Project. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Boy Scouts and other volunteers pack boxes as Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy Utah, hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party as his Eagle Scout Project at the Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy, watches as volunteers pack boxes during an Operation Christmas Child packing party at Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. The event was part of his Eagle Scout Project. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Boy Scouts and other volunteers pack boxes as Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy, Utah, hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party as his Eagle Scout Project at the Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Boy Scouts and other volunteers pack boxes as Jared Goodell, 13, from Sandy Utah, hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party as his Eagle Scout Project at the Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah Sunday, October 27, 2013. Gift-filled shoe-boxes were packed by valley residents for needy kids overseas this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child helps make the holiday a little brighter for children in more than 100 countries. About 40 volunteers packed over 100 boxes during the event.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· October 28, 2013 9:58 am

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Above • Volunteers gather on Sunday at Jordan Commons in Sandy to pack shoeboxes with gifts for needy kids overseas as part of Operation Christmas Child. Left • The project was organized by 13-year-old Jared Goodell as part of his Eagle Scout project. Far left • Three-year-old Rhyker Allred places his Christmas gift box on the completed stack. Operation Christmas Child provides, toys, school supplies and hygiene items to children in more than 100 countries.

The Salt Lake Tribune