Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 232 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories. These simple gifts have the power to change lives as children learn that God loves them.
Operation Christmas Child’s hope is to share the vision to encourage people to pack a shoebox gift with toys, school supplies, and personal care items for children in need. The South Central Missouri Area Team (SCMAT) has an objective to collect 14,828 shoeboxes across a seven county area to contribute to the 2025 global goal of reaching 12 million children around the world.
As the 2025 campaign launches, local volunteers and churches are encouraged to begin preparing early by gathering supplies and organizing packing events throughout the fall. Community involvement not only helps reach the collection goals but also fosters a spirit of generosity and unity among participants.
During Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week Nov. 17-24 Dent County residents can bring gift-filled shoeboxes to drop-off locations in Salem. Donors may use the Zip Code Locator at www.samaritanspurse.org/occ to determine specific hours of operation. The 2025 locator will be launched in October.
Samaritan's Purse provides a gift suggestion list for boys and girls, along with shoeboxes available for purchase that are assembled by the user. Participants are asked to include a $10 donation per shoebox to cover shipping, processing, and ministry materials. Donations may be made by cash, check, or online by selecting “Follow Your Box” which supports a tracking label allowing donors to discover the destination of their shoebox. These items and more can be found at samaritanspurse.org/occ.
For more information, a speaker, or additional supplies, call Janice Hartinger at 573-368-8736, or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.
