As the Thanksgiving season approaches, many families and children are giving thanks for all their blessings and sharing those blessing with children in need by packing shoeboxes with Operation Christmas Child.

Shoebox gifts prepared by generous donors and filled with toys, personal care items and school supplies may be dropped off now during National Collection Week, Nov. 13 – 20 at Milan Baptist Church.

Milan Baptist Church 1201 Maynardville Hwy. Maynardville, TN

• Mon, Nov. 13 to Fri, Nov. 17: 5 – 7 p.m.
• Sat, Nov. 18: Noon – 2 p.m.
• Sun, Nov. 19: 4 – 6 p.m.
• Mon, Nov. 20: 10 a.m. – noon

Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts to children worldwide for three decades. In 2023, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoeboxes to reach another 11 million children. There’s still time for you 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 at www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.
“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.
If you’d like more information about how you can make an eternal impact through a shoebox gift, contact Amie Winstead, Area Coordinator, 865-742-9701 or awinstead.occ@aol.com.