For years, south Collin County residents have been a part of Operation Christmas Child, a global project of Samaritan’s Purse that shares the true meaning of Christmas with children in need around the world. On April 23, volunteers from around the south Collin County area will gather to celebrate an awesome and successful 2021 season. With a goal of packing more than 17,777 shoeboxes with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items in 2021, we far exceeded the goal and want to share the success with all our shoebox packing partners. These gift-filled shoeboxes contributed to Samaritan’s Purse’s global goal of reaching more than 9.7 million children in Jesus’ Name.

You are invited to our Operation Christmas Child Celebration and Prayer Event where we will come together to celebrate all that the Lord did in 2021 through you and in Collin County South.  It will be a time of celebration, testimony, prayer, and encouragement for the amazing things we did in 2021 and know will occur in 2022. 

OCC Celebration and Prayer Event

First Baptist Wylie

100 N First St,   Wylie, TX 75098   Rm 248

Saturday, April 23   10:00 – 11:30 am

It is open to all who lead or assist in shoebox packing efforts, anyone who wishes to hold a packing party, or anyone who desires to learn more about the mission and impact of Operation Christmas Child.

Register Here or for more information, contact Susan Seibert, Area Coordinator at susan.occtx@gmail.com 

Plano, TX, Nov. 15, 2021—As the Thanksgiving season approaches, many families and children are expressing gratitude by giving back to children in need around the world.  One especially thankful person is Maritza Andrade, now an adult with children of her own.  She received a shoebox gift when she was a young girl in El Salvador. Her story is told in this short video – Operation Christmas Child - Maritza's Story: The Reassurance of God's Love | Facebook

For those who are including Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts as part of their holiday, there are 5 local drop-off sites in the south Collin County area.

Shoebox gifts prepared by generous donors all year-long, filled with toys, hygiene items, and school supplies may be dropped off during National Collection Week, Nov. 15 ­– 22.  Participants can find one of the 5 drop-off locations and hours of operation as they make plans to drop off their shoebox gifts.

Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts to children worldwide for nearly three decades. This season, there’s still time for individuals, families, and groups to transform empty shoeboxes into fun gifts. The project of Samaritan’s Purse partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children in need. Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage.

“This season, children around the world need a tangible reminder that there is hope and that God loves them,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Through these shoebox gifts packed with special items, children also receive the opportunity to hear about the eternal hope found in Jesus Christ.”

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 188 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

Allen, TX., September 11, 2021—For years, Collin County residents have been a part of Operation Christmas Child, a global project of Samaritan’s Purse that shares the true meaning of Christmas with children in need around the world. On Saturday, September 11, volunteers from across Collin County will gather to kick off the collection season—with a goal of packing more than 17,777 shoeboxes with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items. These gift-filled shoeboxes will contribute to the project’s global goal of reaching more than 9.7 million children in Jesus’ Name.

The Collin County South chapter of Operation Christmas Child will host their 5^th Annual Project Leader Workshop at Cottonwood Creek Church in Allen, TX.  This event will be for anyone who leads or assists in the shoebox packing effort for their church and all of your BSFs!  (Best Shoebox Friends!).  There will be updates on the incredible things happening with the shoebox gifts, new and fresh ideas to take back to your teams, and discovering the great impact for the Gospel these gifts have through OCC.

Saturday, September 11, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm  

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

If interested in attending or would like more information, contact Susan Seibert at susan.occtx@gmail.com

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 817-595-2230 or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants can donate $9 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. Boxes 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 188 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.