Child receives gift from Operation Christmas Child

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — College of the Ozarks will continue the annual tradition of collecting boxes for Operation Christmas Child by hosting a drop-off for the community and on-campus shoebox packing events Nov. 13-20.

The Samaritan’s Purse project, Operation Christmas Child, collects shoeboxes — filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items — and delivers them to children in need around the world to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way. Since 1993 more than 209 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox.

The College of the Ozarks Christian Ministries Department plans and orchestrates the Operation Christmas Child events. The College will serve as a drop-off location this year to collect Operation Christmas Child boxes from the students and community.

The College will orchestrate a packing party for students on Nov. 9. Many students and departments have taken the initiative to have their own packing parties as well

For many of these children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received. In 2023, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach another 11 million children.

NOV. 13 – 20: Drop-off Sites Open for Operation Christmas Child

The Point Lookout drop-off location is in the Christian Ministries Building on the College of the Ozarks campus. Signs will be posted to direct participants to the drop-off.

The Operation Christmas Child drop-off locations will be accepting shoeboxes on the following dates:

• Monday, Nov. 13, 3-6 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 14, 8-11 a.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 15, 8-11 a.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 16, 3-6 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 17, 8-11 a.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 18, 10-1 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 19, 1-4 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 20, 8-11 a.m.

Anyone who would like to contribute to Operation Christmas Child without leaving home can build a shoebox online at https://build-a-shoebox.samaritanspurse.org/view/1908f310-20b0-45ba-b2b0-0e1b6f91276a

Members of the media may visit samaritanspurse.org/occnewsroom for downloadable resources.

About Operation Christmas Child

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.