For 7 years, Collin County residents have been a part of Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse that shares the true meaning of Christmas with children in need around the world. On Saturday, Aug 26, volunteers from Allen, Plano and surrounding cities will gather to kick off collection season—with a goal of packing more than 25,000 shoeboxes with fun toys, school supplies and personal care items. These gift-filled shoeboxes will contribute to the project’s global goal of reaching more than 11 million children in Jesus’ Name.

Saturday, Aug 26, an in-person workshop will be held to inform, encourage, and equip local volunteers across the Collin County area.  This is for anyone who loves packing OCC shoeboxes, who desires to learn more about the mission and ministry of Operation Christmas Child, or who is looking for a way to serve the LORD through Evangelism, Discipleship, and Multiplication of the Gospel message.

Register early for this free event and you could be eligible for 50 Operation Christmas Child cardboard shoeboxes.  8:45-12:30 at Cottonwood Creek Church (1015 Sam Rayburn Tollway, Allen, TX 75013).

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement. Many shoeboxes built online go to hard-to-reach countries.

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 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories. This year, Operation Christmas Child will celebrate its 30th year of ministry!

Operation Christmas Child leaders in Collin County are celebrating major milestones reached in 2022.  Through the generosity of area volunteers, shoebox gifts – packed with fun toys, school supplies, hygiene items – are bringing joy to children in need across the world.  Each shoebox gift is a tangible expression of God’s love for the child and is often the first gift has child received. 

In 2022:

              10,599,907  shoebox gifts were donated world-wide

                9,303,130  shoebox gifts in the US

                   820,198  shoebox gifts in Texas/Louisiana

                     23,840  shoebox gifts in Collin County South

Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has distributed shoebox gifts to more than 170 countries and this year delivered its 200-millionth shoebox to a young girl in Ukraine.

Shoebox gifts bring smiles and laughter to children but more importantly each gift brings…

              Evangelism – Every child will know Jesus loves them.

                   Discipleship – Greatest Journey for children and families to faith in Christ.

                        Multiplication – Changed lives now discipling others.

If you are interested in year-round volunteer opportunities with Operation Christmas Child or curious about the ministry, join us for one of our upcoming Coffee Chats.

2023 Dates:  March 23,  April 13,  May 11

Time:           6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Location:      Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea

                  3613 Shire Blvd, Unit 110, Richardson TX

Plano, TX, August 5, 2022—The Collin County South chapter of Operation Christmas Child will host their 6^th annual Project Leader Workshop on Saturday, August 27.  This event will kick off the collection season with a goal of packing more than 25,000 shoebox gifts filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items just in the southern Collin County area. 

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 198 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories. This year, Operation Christmas Child will collect its 200-millionth gift-filled shoebox!

The Project Leader Workshop is designed to inform, encourage, and equip our local Operation Christmas Child partners.  It is for anyone who leads or assists in shoebox packing efforts or is interested in learning more about the mission and impact of Operation Christmas Child.

     Saturday, August 27, from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm  

     Cottonwood Creek Church (1015 Sam Rayburn Tollway, Allen, TX 75013)

Each attendee will have the opportunity to attend two of the following four breakout sessions – The Other Side of the Shoebox, The Greatest Journey, Did you Know?, and Crafting Corner.  You are sure to leave the event energized and excited about the ministry of Operation Christmas Child. 

Register now.   We look forward to seeing you.

Did You Know???

Operation Christmas Child is not just about toys.  Operation Christmas Child is about evangelism, discipleship, and multiplication!

How You Ask?

2 upcoming events will inform and answer all your questions.

Sun 7/10/22   Coffee Chat     2pm

For anyone interested in year-round volunteer opportunities with Operation Christmas Child

Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea

3613 Shire Blvd, Ste 110   Richardson, TX 75082

Sat 8/27/22 OCC Project Leader Workshop       10am – 12pm

For anyone who packs a shoebox, oversees a group of shoebox packers, or wants to learn more about the mission and impact of Operation Christmas Child

Cottonwood Creek Church

1015 Sam Rayburn Tollway   Allen, TX 75013

Despite a global pandemic, residents of Collin County shared the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season.

Generosity throughout southern Collin County resulted in 23,099 shoebox gifts collected at curbside drop-off locations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child. Across the U.S., the project collected more than 9.1million such gifts in 2021. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2021, the ministry is now sending more than 10.5 million shoebox gifts to children worldwide this year.

Through shoeboxes—packed with fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items— Volunteers brought joy to children in need around the world. Each gift-filled shoebox is a tangible expression of God’s love, and it is often the first gift these children have ever received. Through the continued generosity of donors since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 188 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories

The news is full of stories coming out of Ukraine, but one story, not as loud but very impactful, is that Samaritan’s Purse is currently in the process of distributing over 600,000 gift-filled Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes through 3,000 churches and ministry partners across Ukraine. In addition, Samaritan’s Purse has deployed Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) specialists to Poland and Romania to help with the fleeing Ukrainians. All the while Samaritan’s Purse continues support of its partners and friends in Russia. Families in both of these countries need hope, prayer and need to know they are loved by God.  

Across Collin County, shoebox packers shop for shoebox gift deals year-round, and many serve at a deeper level. Information about ways Collin County participants can get involved year round can also be found at samaritanspurse.org/occ or by contacting Susan Seibert at susan.occtx@gmail.com.

Although local drop-off locations for gifts are closed until Nov. 14 – 21, 2022, anyone can still be a part of this life-changing project by conveniently packing a shoebox gift online in just a few simple clicks at samaritanspurse.org/buildonline.

These simple gifts, packed with love, send a message to children worldwide that they are loved and not forgotten.