MOULTRIE — Despite recent storms, volunteers are still preparing to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, Nov. 18-25. 

More than 4,700 drop-off locations will open across the country in November, and shoebox packers can find their local drop-off locations nearest them, Samaritan’s Purse said in a press release this week.

The drop-off in Moultrie will be Mount Olive Baptist Church, 126 Mount Olive Church Road, which will be open at various times each day of the week. Other drop-offs will be held at churches in Tifton, Adel, Thomasville and Valdosta. For more information, visit samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child and click Find Your Drop-off Location.

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. It hopes to reach another 12 million children in 2024 with the hope of Jesus.

“Children need hope, and they need to know that they are not alone and God loves them,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Gift-filled shoeboxes open the door for us to share the hope of the Gospel with boys and girls around the world. Please pray that these simple gifts have an eternal impact.”

The website includes instructions for packing shoeboxes, an opportunity to donate to help the mission and details about drop-off locations. 

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, Samaritan’s Purse said. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 220 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.