Imagine retiring only to go to work full-time for the Lord. A dream come true for Jeff and Paula Grossmann, who serve year round in the Treasure Coast Area for Samaritan’s Purse program Operation Christmas Child.

Coordinating a grassroots team of 32 called-ministry partners, the Grossmanns overseemedia communications, community outreach, church relations, logistics (semi-trucks, etc..) and prayer ministries connected with Operation Christmas Child.

Encompassing St. Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties, the grassroots effort is growing; there are more than 200 participating churches as God prepares and opens doors to more. Last year this Treasure Coast Area collected 20,000 gift-filled boxes; the goal for 2017 is 25,000.

The Grossmanns, married for more than 50 years, work January through June with a light schedule, but in season, July through November, they each easily put in 40 hours a week. Paula has been involved in Operation Christmas Child for more than ten years; she began by packing a shoebox. Paula was also chosen to travel to Uganda, Africa, to a women’s prison, to see the Gospel presented to inmates and gift boxes received by their children.

Jeff is partially retired from his own business, Grossmann Air Conditioning. He and his wife, Paula, have been Morningside Church members for 14 years. They have received Christian leadership training and are equipped and supported by Samaritan’s Purse staff in Orlando. Together the two make a dynamic team.

Did you know that when you pack a box that nothing ever is removed from it? This is called the “integrity of the box,” Jeff Grossmann states. After you fill a gift box and pray for the receiver, the box is collected at a collection site. From there it is transported with other boxes to central drop offs to be loaded into semi-trucks. The trucks travel to eight major processing centers across the United States. Florida boxes are received into a mammoth building in Atlanta where they are individually checked by 300 called-ministry partners and then placed into cargo containers for sea route shipping overseas. At times, some boxes will be placed aboard a plane if the receiving country has a limited time window.

Overseas, in more than 100 countries, children ages two to 14 receive the gift-filled boxes from trained Operation Christmas Child nationals. Many of the children are in need, living in poverty, orphanages, and refugee camps. These children are also invited to participate in The Greatest Journey discipleship program, where they will have an opportunity to meet Jesus and receive Him. “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” (Matt 19:14) Each day thousands of children come to know the Lord through this program.

This year Samaritan’s Purse is introducing a new type of box which may be used for gift-packing. It is a durable plastic box, decorated with the Operation Christmas Child logo and colors, now made available at Hobby Lobby. This box itself is a gift.

It is a blessing and an honor to pack a box and send it.

Paula Grossmann says this, “Last year, Puerto Rico sent many boxes; this year, it is expected that none will come from the U.S. territory.” God is calling us to make up the shortage and then some. If you filled a shoebox last year, please consider filling two this year.

Other ways to pack boxes include organizing packing parties through a community organization or church.

Just as Apostle Paul sent out handkerchiefs, these shoeboxes represent the work and word of God going forth. Children will be won to the love of Christ.

Paula tells a story of a box packed just with socks. The box was received in India by a little boy who had burned feet. Because of his condition he was required to wear socks, but he had only one pair; his mother was constantly washing them. God knew what this boy needed.

Jeff Grossmann adds, “God is in control.”

The work of God goes where no one can go—into the hearts and minds of children and their parents, changing the world for the glory of God.

National Collection Week November 13-20

Drop Off Locations:

Port St. Lucie: Morningside Church, West
Fort Pierce: Indian River Presbyterian
Stuart: United Methodist on Kanner Highway
Okeechobee: First Baptist of Okeechobee
Loxahatchee: Oasis Church
Jupiter: Harvest Community Church
North Palm Beach: Lighthouse Church
West Palm Beach: Lakeside Presbyterian

Hurricane Irma exploded across the Florida Keys. Many residents evacuated, only to return to devastation. Mobile homes are piled high on sides of U.S. Highway 1; useless refrigerators and household appliances are heaped up across the street. Damaged boats floating adrift must be hauled out of waterways.

Florida Keys residents are Americans though. They are rebuilding.

Bob Leone of Port St. Lucie, Florida is a part of the reconstruction process. He feeds the U.S. military which is in the Keys helping families make their homes habitable again.

Each day Bob appears for duty at 4AM to oversee the logistics of feeding 500 military personnel in Key West at the Trumbo Naval Station. Currently, the National Guard and U.S. Armyhave set up a base camp there. The camp runs strictly off of generators.

In all, Bob Leone expects to be 30 days in Key West.

Since 2005, Leone has worked with John Antonini as the COO of Logistics as an emergency food service provider to first-responders. He states, “I run the operation on a day-to-day basis. Antonini deals with all the supplies of food, water, gas, tents—and the list goes on.”

The feeding service team is 17 strong, with 11 to 12 staff working every day to put together breakfast, a boxed lunch to go, and an evening supper.

Before coming to Key West, Bob Leone and crew were stationed in Miami, at Miami Dade Community College, North, preparing 1000 to 2500 meals daily for FPL line workers who had come from all over the country to power Florida back up.

After 10 days in Miami, the call came in for the Antonini team to move to Key West.

Leone operates his team’s work out of two tractor-trailers. The first is a 55 foot unit built especially for first-responder meal provision, complete with convection ovens, preparation tables, an ice machine and coffee maker. It too operates on a generator. From arrival to being fully operational is only two hours.

The second tractor-trailer is filled with equipment. It must be unloaded, pressure washed, and bleached, and will serve as the sub truck where boxed lunches are prepared.

As COO of Logistics, Bob says, “So much is going on; it’s like a whirlwind. I coordinate everybody getting stuff done. For example, at breakfast a team must be in the sub truck, building sandwiches. Also, at 8 AM, guys must be ready to unload the CISCO food supply truck and put it all away. I organize the work schedule so that everyone gets a rest. “

Sleep is precious. During the first few days at a site, Leone and crew only have about four hours each night, between 11PM and 3AM to close their eyes. Afterward, the time increases to six hours of rest. “It’s brutal,” Leone adds.

Meals aren’t tv dinners and a box of cornflakes for breakfast.

Leone serves hardy quality food. Breakfasts are two or three types of eggs, hash, sausage and gravy, cereals, fresh fruit, bacon and sausage. Evening suppers back at camp may be stuffed pork chops or Salisbury steak with potatoes, vegetables, salad and dessert with a daily changing menu.

Bob Leone’s daughter, Angela Leone Buzan, flew in from her home in San Diego, California to participate as well. This season she arrived just prior to Irma and was ready for immediate deployment. Angela took charge of the sub lunch truck, overseeing its operation for three weeks. Bob Leone states, “Serving with my daughter for three weeks has been the best part of this work.” Angela is 28, a professional Pilates instructor, she owns her own studio.

Bob Leone began working hurricanes and snow storms as a first-responder with John Antonini in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit. Their reputation is well known with FPL and the military as providers of quality delicious food and with the ability to feed thousands in days.

Leone prepares for this work. Each week he and Antonini inspect their tractor-trailer unit in storage, firing it up and making sure that all aspects of it are in working order.

Previously, Antonini was a caterer and Leone a chef. Together the two friends have made a tremendous difference in the aftermath of storms.

Leone states that he enjoys the appreciation of the folks he feeds.

He adds this, “You have no idea what goes on in a devastated spot. The news doesn’t give you the same vision. Be a first-responder, no matter the organization. “

You normally can find Bob Leone at Acquisition Experts in Stuart where he is a professional business broker, helping people buy and sell businesses, or at the Saturday night service of Morningside Church in Port St. Lucie. He and his team have abruptly given up their time and lifestyle to help feed others. He is indeed a Hometown Hero.

Hometown Heroes