OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

When: National collection week Nov. 18-25
Where: Local drop-off locations are First Baptist Church, 1333 N. Third St., Wylie Methodist Church. 3430 Antilley Road, and Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 S. Pioneer Drive. First Baptist Church in Sweetwater and Church of the Nazarene in Hamlin also are drop-off locations. 
Contact: Area coordinator is Naomi Wood. For more information or to request materials, contact Wood at 325-660-5633 or abileneareaocc@ .com. 
More information: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/
To volunteer: Anyone who wishes to  join the Area Team or wants to volunteer year-round with Operation Christmas Child can go to https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/ways-to-volunteer/  or email Naomi Wood at abileneareaocc@gmail.com

By Loretta Fulton

The Abilene Area Team of Operation Christmas Child has set a lofty goal of 6,000 shoeboxes full of goodies to be collected during National Collection Week, Nov. 18-25.

Three Abilene churches, and two in the area, will be collecting the boxes during that week. The boxes are filled with school supplies, personal care items, and toys that will be shipped to children worldwide. 

Naomi Wood, Abilene Area Coordinator and a member of Wylie Methodist Church, spoke at the September meeting of the Abilene Association of Congregations. She said Operation Christmas Child, which is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, has set a national goal of 12 million boxes. Since 1993, the year the ministry started, 220 million boxes have been collected nationally.

People who pack the boxes, whether individuals or groups, benefit from the experience, too. Wood said someone once mentioned that participating in Operation Christmas Child has an added perk.

“When you pack a shoebox,” she said, “you become a missionary.” 

In 2023, the Abilene area collected 5,562 boxes. Shoeboxes are available through the Samaritan’s Purse website or by contacting Wood. Participants can also pack a shoebox online. Click here for instructions for packing a shoebox online. 

The website also gives complete instructions on what is permitted and not permitted in a physical shoebox and how to pack the box. The site also has gift choices by gender and age range.  Click here for instructions for packing physical boxes. 

A $10 donation is requested for both physical and online boxes to pay for shipping and for a discipleship program called “The Greatest Journey.” After receiving shoebox gifts, many children participate in the program. The 12-lesson course held at a local church teaches Bible stories and scripture memorization. The $25 charge for online boxes includes the $10 requested donation.

Drop-off locations and schedule

Wylie Methodist Church
3430 Antilley Road

Mon, Nov. 18: 12-5 p.m.
Tue, Nov. 19: 12-4 p.m. 
Wed, Nov. 20: 12-4 p.m. 
Thu, Nov. 21: 12-4 p.m. 
Fri, Nov. 22: 1-5 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 23: 10 a.m.-12 noon and 1:30-4 p.m.
Sun, Nov. 24: 1:30-4 p.m. 
Mon, Nov. 2: 12-3:30 p.m. 

First Baptist Church
1333 N 3rd St.

Mon, Nov. 18: 10 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. 
Tue, Nov. 19: 10 a.m.-12 noon and 3-5 p.m. 
Wed, Nov. 20: 2-5:30 p.m. 
Thu, Nov. 21: 10 a.m.-12 noon and 3-5 p.m.
Fri, Nov. 22: 10 a.m.-12 noon and 3-5 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 23: 10 a.m.-12 noon
Sun, Nov. 24: 1-3 p.m. 
Mon, Nov. 25: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 

Pioneer Drive Baptist Church
701 S. Pioneer Drive

Mon, Nov. 18: 2-5 p.m.
Tue, Nov. 19: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 
Wed, Nov. 20: 4-8 p.m. 
Thu, Nov. 21: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Fri, Nov. 22: 9 a.m.-12 noon
Sat, Nov. 23: 10 a.m.-12 noon
Sun, Nov. 24: 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 
Mon, Nov. 25: 8 a.m.-12 noon