Join the Effort to Spread Joy to Children Worldwide

St. Charles County families believe it is never too early to make a difference, which is why, whether it is August or December, they are generously transforming shoeboxes—filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys—into gifts of joy. Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, delivers the gifts to children suffering from poverty, natural disaster, war, terror, disease and famine.

The local Area Team of volunteers hope to collect 19,400 shoebox gifts to contribute to the 2018 global goal of reaching 11 million children.

“Reaching more than 11 million children with gifts of hope requires a massive, year-round effort, and we are so grateful for the dedicated volunteers who give of their time and resources throughout the year to collect as many gift-filled shoeboxes as possible,” said Jennifer Fay, volunteer area coordinator for the St. Charles MO Area Team for Operation Christmas Child. “Through these simple gifts, we are able to make a lasting impact on a child’s life and share a tangible expression of God’s love.”

National Collection Week is Nov. 12 – 19, when local drop-off sites will be open to receive shoebox gifts. An online locator will be available starting in October on the Operation Christmas Child web site to find nearby drop off locations and hours of operation.

To learn more about Operation Christmas Child or year-round volunteering opportunities, residents can call Jennifer Fay at 636-328-7871 or email jen.fay@charter.net. Information is also available online at samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants can donate $9 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is 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 157 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.