TORRINGTON – Drop-off locations across Wyoming will open Nov. 17-24 for Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week, giving residents the opportunity to donate gift-filled shoeboxes to children in need worldwide.
The Samaritan’s Purse project has collected and delivered more than 232 million shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries since 1993, according to the organization. Volunteers plan to reach 12 million children in 2025.
“Samaritan’s Purse works around the world to help people in need, but it’s not about good works – it’s about the Gospel,” Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, said in a statement. “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.”
Nearly 5,000 drop-off locations will open nationwide during the collection week. Wyoming residents can search for nearby sites by city or ZIP code on the Samaritan’s Purse website at samaritanspurse.org.
The shoeboxes typically contain toys, school supplies and personal care items. Many recipient children have never received a gift of their own, according to the organization.
Participants can pack boxes individually or in groups. Step-by-step packing instructions are available on the Operation Christmas Child website. The organization suggests a $10 donation per shoebox and offers a “Follow Your Box” tracking service for donors who want to learn where their gifts are delivered.
Operation Christmas Child partners with local churches globally to distribute the shoeboxes to children affected by war, poverty, disease and disaster.
For information on drop-off locations and hours, visit samaritanspurse.org.
