With the holiday season in the air, Collin County is putting plans in place to help those who are less fortunate across the globe. Local churches, businesses, and individuals are transforming empty shoeboxes into gifts of hope by filling them with supplies like pencils, crayons and notebooks, alongside personal care items and fun toys.  (How to Pack a Shoebox)

Operation Christmas Child will deliver the gift-filled shoeboxes to children in need around the world to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way.

“In 2023, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoeboxes to reach another 11 million children,” the organization said in a news release.  And yet, that is just a tiny percentage of children who may have never received a gift in their lives. For more information, go to (SamaritansPurse.org/occ).

National Collection Week is also fast approaching, Nov. 13-20. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. (Track a Shoebox)

Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, and finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.   For online packing, visit (samaritanspurse.org/buildonline).