Volunteers are preparing to collect Operation Christmas Child (OCC) shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, November 18-25. More than 4,700 drop-off locations will open across the country in November, and shoebox packers can find their local drop-off locations nearest them.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering gift-filled shoeboxes to children including many who are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster. Operation Christmas Child hopes to reach another 12 million children in 2024 with the hope of Jesus.

Shoebox packing is fun for individuals, families and groups! Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage. The project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children in need. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination.

“Children need hope, and they need to know that they are not alone and God loves them,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Gift-filled shoeboxes open the door for us to share the hope of the Gospel with boys and girls around the world. Please pray that these simple gifts have an eternal impact.”

Participants can find the nearest drop-off location and hours of operation as they make plans to drop off their shoebox gifts. The online lookup tool is searchable by city or zip code. Signs at each location will identify the drop-off.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 220 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories. The following are good gift ideas: pencils, crayons, coloring books, sharpeners, paper, pens, markers, notebooks, toy cars, yo-yos, dolls, stuffed animals, jump ropes, flip flops, sunglasses, jewelry, socks, bar soap, washcloths, toothbrushes, combs, and brushes.

Please do not pack the following items: candy, toothpaste, gum, used or damaged items, scary or war-related items, chocolate or food, seeds, fruit rolls or other fruit snacks, drink mixes (powdered or liquid), liquids or lotions, medications or vitamins, breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers, or aerosol cans.

The Fairfax Baptist Church is a collection point for Northwest Missouri churches and organizations (and for any churches or organizations in surrounding areas). The church is located at 604 Angell Street, Fairfax. The schedule will be as follows: Monday, November 18, 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.; Tuesday, November 19, 9:00 a.m. to noon; Wednesday, November 20, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.; Thursday, November 21, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.; Friday, November 22, 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, November 23, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; Sunday, November 24, 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. (collection and packing day); and Monday, November 25, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. If these times do not work for you, call for an appointment time or they may be able to pick up boxes at your location.

They also have cardboard OCC boxes, packing instruction sheets and other information available for anyone interested.

The drop-off team leader at the Fairfax Baptist Church is Deb Johnson. You may contact her at 660-744-5576 or 660-253-0143 (cell) for more information.

For more information, call Deb Johnson, Regional Coordinator, Operation Christmas Child, at 660-253-0143, or Dan Johnson, Fairfax Baptist Church Coordinator, OCC, at 660-253-0183.