Actor David Henrie serves as one of our incredible ambassadors with Cross Catholic Outreach’s Box of Joy ministry. While most people know him for his roles as Justin Russo on Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place” and “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” or as Luke Mosby in “How I Met Your Mother,” he is also a role model for young Catholic men because of his strong faith, and he has involved his children in our Box of Joy ministry because he sees it as a great way to introduce the next generation to the importance of works of mercy.
I was thrilled when David traveled with us to the Dominican Republic last December to see the impact of Box of Joy. I’m sure he was busy after completing his work on the upcoming 2024 “Reagan” movie, but we were so thankful he could take the time to help give out the gifts firsthand!
For those still unfamiliar with our Box of Joy ministry, it was launched in 2014 to enable compassionate individuals, families, parishes and schools to bless boys and girls in developing nations, and since then, more than 646,163 lovingly packed gifts have been distributed to eager boys and girls, many of whom had never before received a Christmas present of their own. Our team is so excited to work with David to share the news about this beautiful outreach so that we can bless even more children with precious gifts and the Good News of our faith.
Deeply committed to his Catholic faith, David is helping us spread the word about Box of Joy and the hope it brings to children in need.
“Trust me! It’ll make your heart happy and bring smiles and hope to children all around the world,” David said in a recent video posted to his Instagram account.
David and his wife, Maria, are raising three children of their own — which makes him even more excited to share the joy of the season with kids living in extreme poverty.
“This Christmas and holiday season, I finally found a fun way to teach my kids how to give rather than receive,” David explained. “My kids had an absolute blast because they got to go on an adventure to pick out gifts for a little boy and girl just like them in another part of the world that may not have gifts this Christmas. Now that I’m a father, the thought of kids like my own not getting a present on Christmas crushes me because, more than the gift itself, what it represents is the ultimate gift, which is God’s love.”
Cross Catholic Outreach is deeply grateful for David’s support. His efforts are helping Box of Joy reach as many children as possible with beautiful gifts and the light of Christ.
Box of Joy is a ministry of Cross Catholic Outreach that provides shoebox-sized gifts for impoverished children in developing nations. Many of these children have grown up without access to life’s essentials — nutritious food, clean water, safe housing and a quality education — and poverty is the root cause of their daily challenges. When a family is struggling to afford even the basics of life, purchasing toys (or even things like new clothing and toothbrushes) for their children is considered an extreme luxury. They would love to provide their sons and daughters with more, but extras are simply an expense they cannot afford.
Cross Catholic Outreach believes in supporting holistic ministry that addresses each of these needs: distributing nutritious meals, installing deep water wells, constructing sturdy homes, sponsoring life-changing school scholarships — and also ensuring that precious boys and girls are able to enjoy their childhood! Box of Joy is an important complement to the other outreaches we support. To truly thrive, children need to be able to play and have fun. They also need to know that they are deeply loved by both Christ and his Church.
Every year, Catholic schools, parishes and groups serve to coordinate Box of Joy packing events. Donors contribute by either packing boxes of their own or donating on the Box of Joy website. Volunteers make sure each box is lovingly packed with toys, treats, clothing items and school supplies. At the National Box of Joy Screening Center in South Florida, teams complete the boxes by adding The Story of Jesus and a rosary.
It never fails — children’s faces absolutely light up when they finally receive these precious gifts! In countries such as the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras and Malawi, little ones give thanks for these special presents provided just for them.
It’s easy to bless lives through Box of Joy! You can light up a child’s life from the comfort of your own home by donating gifts online. You may also volunteer to lead a group in your local area that will pack and collect Box of Joy gifts and prepare them for shipment. Volunteers in South Florida may also serve at our National Box of Joy Screening Center to review the gifts and make sure they are ready to reach children around the world.
Box of Joy and many other opportunities to help children are featured in our convenient online catalog. I pray you will consider joining us by reaching out to bless young lives this year. Jesus came to share his hope and love with the world, and today, we can all be his ambassadors — extending his compassion to boys and girls who wish for just one gift!
Box of Joy is a ministry of Cross Catholic Outreach.
Donations from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures for this project incurred through June 30, 2027, the close of our ministry’s fiscal year. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the project, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry.
