By Francesca Pollio Fenton
CNA Staff, Dec 21, 2024 / 15:00 pm
Cross Catholic Outreach’s Box of Joy ministry celebrates its 10th anniversary with a heartwarming gesture. Actor David Henrie, the brand ambassador for the nonprofit, visited Guatemala with his wife, Maria, to personally deliver the ‘Boxes of Joy’ to children in need.
Established in 2001, Cross Catholic Outreach is a Vatican-endorsed nonprofit dedicated to providing essential aid like food, medicine, and shelter to individuals facing poverty in over 90 countries. Recently recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Top 100 charities, ranking at No. 42.
The organization’s Box of Joy ministry began in 2014. These boxes are distributed during Christmas to underprivileged children, many of whom have never experienced the joy of receiving a Christmas gift before.
Imagine a box filled with toys, clothing, school supplies, a rosary, and a booklet in the language of the children telling the story of Jesus. This is what the Box of Joy ministry, in partnership with Cross Catholic Outreach, provides to children in need.
Two years ago, David Henrie, best known for his role as Justin Russo in the Disney series “Wizards of Waverly Place,” joined forces with Cross Catholic Outreach to support the Box of Joy ministry.
Speaking about his collaboration with the charity, Henrie shared, “It had been on my heart to try to align with a Catholic charity, but I wanted to be very selective and find something that could appeal to my fanbase…”
During a mission trip to Guatemala with his wife, Henrie visited the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Lima. Witnessing extreme poverty and the struggles faced by families in the region, Henrie described the experience as a “perspective check” that taught them valuable lessons in simplicity and humility.
He was moved by the strong family values in the community and recounted how children would selflessly share their gifts with their siblings upon receiving them.
Henrie expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with the Box of Joy ministry, emphasizing the importance of bringing awareness to this cause.
