BURLINGTON — She lifted the lid and saw pink colors and frilly things.
An image provided by Operation Christmas Child shows the orphanage in the former Soviet Union where Elena Nicholson lived as a child and where she received a Christmas gift shoebox that changed her life.
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Watch now: Woman who lived in an orphanage in the former Soviet Union tells how a holiday shoebox from an American-based religious group changed her life.
Elena Nicholson, front and center, holds a sample shoebox surrounded by volunteers for Operation Christmas Child, a church-based program that involves churches throughout the counties of Racine, Kenosha and Walworth that ship Christmas gift shoeboxes to needy kids around the world.
Elena Nicholson, right, and her younger sister, Yulia, are shown shortly after the two were adopted from an orphanage in the former Soviet Union by a family living in Missouri.
Soul Revival Church Community Easter Eggstravaganza, in photos
Ariana Lara
Ariana Lara fills her basket with eggs during the Community Easter Eggstravaganza egg drop at Horlick High School's field on Saturday morning.
Ryland Hill and Ezra Gordon
The kids who gathered at Horlick High School on Saturday for the Community Easter Eggstravaganza were definitely enthusiastic about the helicopter Easter egg drop — as seen on the faces of Ryland Hill, 6, and Ezra Gordon, 3.
Helicopter egg drop
Some of the more than 10,000 eggs prepared for the event were put on the field behind Horlick High School before Community Easter Eggstravaganza. The rest were dropped from a helicopter. Pastor TJ Poisl, of Soul Revival church, said he had a dream about helicopters, so organizers started to look around for a helicopter and pilot who would do the egg drop.
Egg hunt
Children were released onto Horlick High School's field by age, with the youngest kids going first, to take part in the Community Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday morning.
Easter Bunny puts in an appearance
Despite a busy calendar this time of year, the Easter Bunny put in an appearance at Saturday's egg drop. Shown with the bunny, from left, Marleni Aragon, Victoria Aragon, Javier Aragon and Nancy Aragon.
Grady Wendt
Grady Wendt was part of the crew helping to clean up the lawn after the Community Easter Eggstravaganza egg drop at Horlick High School's field on Saturday morning.
Sofia Kelley
The Racine Police Department, officers from the Community Oriented Policing program, and deputies from the Racine County Sheriff's Office were on hand to give the kids a peek inside a law enforcement vehicle. Sofia Kelley, 7, climbed into the driver's seat of this RPD vehicle.
Xavier Cade and Firefighter Andrae Nash
The Racine Fire Department was on scene at Horlick High School on Saturday. Xavier Cade, 7, is shown holding a fire hose with firefighter Andrae Nash.
Miss Racine 2022 Maria Castillo
The Easter Bunny is shown on Saturday with Miss Racine 2022 Maria Jose Castillo Venegas.
Emerson Holliday and Tavis Franklin, of Dragon Pit Barbecue
There were many vendors at Horlick High School on Saturday for the Community Easter Eggstravaganza, including Culver's and Kona Ice. Emerson Holliday, right, the owner of Dragon Pitt Barbecue, is shown with Tavis Franklin.
