Actor David Henrie says taking part in a charity program that gives to those in need has a “soft spot” in his heart.
Henrie, who is known for his role as Justin Russo in the Disney channel television show “Wizards of Waverly Place,” revealed the “Box of Joy” program, an initiative of the Cross Catholic Outreach (CCO), is a “fun way” for him to teach his children “how to give rather than receive.”
“This Christmas and holiday season I finally found a fun way to teach my kids how to give rather than receive,” Henrie said in a video from the Cross Catholic Outreach. “It’s called Box of Joy.”
Henrie said his children had a “blast” as they traveled to pick out gifts to send to a boy and girl in another part of the world who may be less fortunate.
“Now that I’m a father, the thought of a kid like my own not getting a present on Christmas crushes me,” Henrie added. “Because more than the gift itself, what it represents is the ultimate gift, which is God’s love.”
A Box of Joy is described as being a “shoebox-sized package” that is filled with gifts like toys, clothing, school supplies, and other items a child may need, according to the CCO’s website.
“The program allows individuals, families and school groups to provide or sponsor presents for children in need by hosting a Christmas toy drive and assembling shoeboxes as a community,” the description of the program continues.
Henrie explained in the video that since the program began in 2014, over half a million Box of Joy gifts have been sent out to children around the world in countries such as Haiti and Guatemala.
“Each Box of Joy provides material gifts and shares God’s love by including a rosary and the story of Jesus written in the child’s native language,” Henrie explained.
In an interview with Fox News, Henrie, who is the program’s spokesman, explained he got in contact with CCO over the summer and was interested in the Box of Joy program.
“It really has a soft spot in my heart,” Henrie told the outlet. “It instantly brought to mind the fact that I want to teach my kids how to give over Christmas and just in general, have a spirit of recognizing the works of mercy in others and doing it.”
IJR reached out to Henrie for a statement but did not hear back by the time of publication.