Holly Springs Baptist Church was recently recognized for its service to children in need around the world. For more than 15 years, Holly Springs Baptist has served as a drop-off location for Operation Christmas Child (OCC). Each year, the Samaritan’s Purse project delivers millions of gift-filled shoeboxes to children affected by war, disaster, disease, poverty, and famine.
Thousands of shoebox gifts packed and donated in Macon County and across Western North Carolina each year have been collected by volunteers at Holly Springs Baptist Church. June Trull, area coordinator for the Western North Carolina Area Team, presented Brenda Hackett, project leader for Holly Springs Baptist Church, with a beautiful bronze figure for their faithful service to Macon County and as a Central Drop-Off Center for Operation Christmas Child Western North Carolina Area Team.
“Operation Christmas Child is excited to honor Holly Springs Baptist Church for 15 years of dedicated service and support,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Reaching millions of children each year with the good news and great joy of God’s love would not be possible without these wonderful ministry partners.”
Volunteers are currently collecting Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during this National Collection Week, Nov. 18 – 25. More than 4,700 drop-off locations are open across the country in November.
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. Operation Christmas Child hopes to reach another 12 million children in 2024 with the hope of Jesus.
Shoebox packing is fun for individuals, families, and groups! Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage, www.samaritianspurse.org/occ. The project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children in need. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination.
“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.”
Two local drop-off locations are Holly Springs Baptist Church, 366 Holly Springs Church Road, Franklin; and First Baptist Church of Highlands, 220 Main Street, Highlands.
Holly Springs is open to collect boxes on Nov. 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.; Nov. 22, 3 to 8 p.m.; Nov. 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Nov. 24, 12 to 6 p.m.; and, Nov. 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact First Baptist Church of Highlands to learn their collection hours at (828)526-4153.