From Refugee Camp to Full Circle: Abraham’s Shoebox Story Hits Home in High Point

At US Duct, we talk a lot about airflow. But sometimes, it’s about a different kind of movement—one sparked by a small act of kindness and a shoebox.

This is the story of Aluak “Abraham” Majok.

He grew up in Sudan but fled at age five when war broke out. “We walked for days in the jungles and crossing small rivers,” Abraham said. “Sometimes you don’t have water and the little food that we had, it was only for maybe two or three days and then you ran out of food.”

He lived in refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya for years. Then in December 1995, when he was 13, something unexpected happened.

“When you open these things, you look at things that you never had,” he said about receiving an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. “There are like basic things here. You have toothpaste, you got toothbrushes and you got underwear. You got notebooks. You got pencils and shoes. That was an amazing gift. Had stuff that I have never thought I would have at that time.”

And it wasn’t just the items—it was the feeling.

“I was so excited because everyone had something,” he said. “Most exciting thing is things that you see what people in a different class have is now in your hands and you can use them.”

Years later, Abraham made it to the U.S. through the Sudanese Lost Boys Program. He landed in High Point, North Carolina, and began working at US Metal Crafters in 2020.

This year, The US-Companies (US Duct, US Metal Crafters, and US Enhanced Personnel) decided to support Operation Christmas Child again, but at first, without even knowing his connection to it. When Abraham shared his story, the mission took on new meaning.

“I was so excited to be a part of it,” he said. “I realize now I have to get a box and put what I think a child when I was back there would like to have.”

He and his coworkers packed nearly 3,000 boxes, and plan on doing it again this year.

“I just want somebody to feel like when I had that box because I was so excited when I had seen that box,” Abraham said. “Now, I got to put something that I like in a box, so when this kid opened this box, they’re going to be really, really excited.”

And while he never met the person who sent him that life-changing gift nearly 30 years ago, he’s never stopped being thankful.

“You have changed my life,” he said. “You have put hope in me that people are out there, great people are out there. I didn’t have a chance to tell them thank you, but now is my chance to tell them. This will be a thank you to them because they have started it, so now we’re going to have to carry on with it.”

Abraham delivered those thousands of boxes to the Samaritan’s Purse center in Charlotte himself. From one shoebox to 3,000 — that’s what we call moving air and hearts.

You can donate here to help us help other kids in need, or learn more about OCC here.