Drop off locations for Operation Child Christmas shoeboxes set to open soon
Information obtained by Dawnita Miller, Samaritan’s Purse/Operation Christmas Child Media Support Team Member
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Sign up freeSomething wonderful has been happening quietly in the Hutchinson area for over three decades. Individuals, families, schools, scout groups, churches & businesses have been packing shoebox gifts for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering gift-filled shoeboxes to children, including many who are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster.
The process is simple. Fill a medium size shoebox with school supplies, hygiene items, and small toys and bring it to multiple drop off locations in the Hutchinson area during National Collection Week, November 16-23.
Operation Christmas Child takes it from there and distributes the gift filled shoeboxes, each as individual and unique as the person who packed it, to children in need in over 100 countries around the world.
Last year they distributed over 12 million shoebox gifts and hope to give over 12.8 million gifts this year. Over 32,000 of those came from the Hutchinson / Wichita area. They hope to collect over 35,000 this year.
Individuals & groups are packing shoeboxes now in preparation for National Collection Week, November 16 - 23. Semi-trailers will be loaded to transport the boxes to the Denver processing center where they are sorted before being sent to their final destinations around the world, where they are delivered in dugout canoes, by dog sled, even on the backs of camels and elephants!
“One of the things I love about Operation Christmas Child is that every age can participate, from families with young children to our seniors, everyone can fill a box and bring joy to a child across the world,” said local volunteer Vicki Beck.
Participants can donate $10 online through “follow your box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination.
Many times the shoebox is the only gift a child receives for Christmas. Often it is the very first gift they have ever received.
“Samaritan’s Purse works around the world to help people in need, but it’s not about good works – it’s about the Gospel,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Please prayerfully consider packing a shoebox this year with Operation Christmas Child. These simple gifts open the door for us to share the true meaning of Christmas.”
To learn more about how to pack a shoebox and find the drop off location nearest you, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.
Drop-locations in Hutchinson and McPherson
First Baptist Church
800 N Main Street Hutchinson, KS, 67501-4606
Monday, Nov. 16: 3-6 PM
Tuesday, Nov. 17: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Wednesday, Nov. 18: 3-6PM
Thursday, Nov. 19: 8-11 AM
Friday, Nov. 20: 3-6 PM
Saturday, Nov. 21: 1-5 PM
Sunday, Nov. 22: 1-4 PM
Monday, Nov. 23: 8-10 AM
First Southern Baptist Church
1201 E 23rd Avenue Hutchinson, KS, 67502-5651
Monday, Nov. 16: 1-4 PM
Tuesday, Nov. 17: 4- 6 PM
Wednesday, Nov. 18: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Thursday, Nov. 19: 5-8 PM
Friday, Nov. 20: 1-4 PM
Saturday, Nov. 21: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sunday, Nov. 22: 2-5 PM
Monday, Nov. 23: 8-10 AM
Countryside Covenant
940 E Northview Avenue McPherson, KS, 67460-2121
Monday, Nov. 16: 5-7 PM
Tuesday, Nov. 17: 5-7 PM
Wednesday, Nov. 18: 5-8 PM
Thursday, Nov. 19: 5-7 PM
Friday, Nov. 20: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Saturday, Nov. 21: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sunday, Nov. 22: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Monday, Nov. 23: 9-11 AM
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