‘Operation Christmas Child’ gearing up for holiday season

Marion First Baptist Church will serve as shoebox collection point once again in 2024

By RALPH HARDIN

news@theeveningtimes.com

Sure, we just only last week got done with Halloween and Thanksgiving is still a few weeks away, but volunteers are already preparing to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, Nov. 18 to 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 giftfilled 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!” said GreenLee Smith of Samaritan’s Purse Find, the parent organization behind Operation Christmas Child. “You can find a stepby- step guide on the ‘How to Pack a Shoebox’ webpage (samaritanspurse.org). 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 and through the “Follow Your Box” option on the web site, they can receive a tracking label to discover its destination.

See FUNDRAISER, page A2

Marion First Baptist Church Pastor Dr. James Nichols holds up one of what local organizers will be hundreds of “shoebox” style gift boxes that will be collected this holiday season. Nichols, with a little help from his shoebox buddies Ryder and Reese Goodwin, explained the concept of Operation Christmas Child to the congregation last Sunday. First Marion will be the drop-off point for the area again this year.

Photo by Ralph Hardin FUNDRAISER

From page A1

“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 everywhere 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.

Locally, Marion First Baptist Church, 2137, Hwy. 77, will once again serve as a local drop-off and collection hub for Crittenden County and surrounding areas. You can drop off items to be put into the gift boxes, donate money for the purchase of gift box items or pick up an empty shoebox (or two … or three) to fill up with your family and return to the church during collection week.

First Marion’s Brittney Dean offered some tips for shoebox filler ideas.

“Some of you are shopping for Operation Christmas Child now so I thought I would share this,” she said. “I came across it recently and thought it was good to know – for anyone involved with Shoebox Missions this year. Very helpful info about what is actually useful and prevents a lot of waste. This info is from a church member that just returned from a mission. Shoeboxes were delivered while she was there.”

What did the children like best? The toys.

“They don’t have any,” said Dean. “The toys that are perfect and known by all kids – jacks, balls, cars, playing cards, marbles. They didn’t know what to do with Legos, or puzzles.”

She said simple toys are best, even for the older kids.

“Avoid toy soldiers as many of these children are in war torn areas, advised Dean.” “They didn’t know what a washcloth was. They don’t use them, or towels either.”

Other tips or recommendations:

■ ■ Feminine hygiene products – for some of the older girls, especially things like washable pads

■ ■ Stuffed animals don’t last long. They get filthy. Don’t send white stuffies.

■ ■ Many boxes contained Bibles, but the kids couldn’t read them as they don’t know much English. They would bring them in and ask someone to read to them. But they were King James Version – hard for anyone to read casually! If you send Bibles, send an easy to read version such NiRV.

■ ■ Water bottles are gold!

■ ■ Band-Aids – awesome!

■ ■ Tape measure – yes!

■ ■ Any kind of hair accessories, but especially little pony tail holders for braids.

■ ■ Sewing kits.

■ ■ Chalk.

■ ■ Bright colored thread (thread is scarce in many places)

■ ■ Tools of any kind

■ ■ Flashlights with batteries

■ ■ Eating utensils, bowls, cups, anything they can put food in.

■ ■ Simple books or picture books so they can practice English, as they really want to learn.

■ ■ Drawings by your own children, of play and family activities.

■ ■ And of course pencils with sharpeners, pens, markers, crayons, notebooks, etc., for school.

About Operation Christmas Child 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 giftfilled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.