The employees of Mountain Credit Union (MCU) have donated $1,150, to be applied to the distribution costs of Operation Christmas Child (OCC) shoebox gifts. Manager Cody Rodgers presented the check to Area Team Coordinator June Trull during Collection Week. These funds will help deliver more than 100 gift-filled shoeboxes.
With the generosity of the people of Franklin, Highlands, and Macon County, the Western North Carolina Area (seven counties west of Asheville) helped provide shoebox gifts to 22,789 children through Operation Christmas Child during the 2024 season.
Across the U.S., the Samaritan’s Purse project collected 10.5 million shoebox gifts in 2024. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2024, the ministry is now sending over 11.9 million shoebox gifts to children worldwide.
Shoebox packers brought joy and hope to children around the world through personalized shoebox gifts. For many children, this is the first gift they have ever received. Each shoebox gift is designed to be a tangible expression of God’s love, given to children in need around the world. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 232 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.
Across North Carolina, shoebox packers often shop for deals on shoebox items throughout the year, and many serve at a deeper level by becoming a year-round volunteer. Information about ways area participants can get involved year-round can be found at samaritanspurse. org/occ.
Although local dropoff locations for shoebox gifts are closed until Nov. 17-24, anyone can still be a part of this life-changing project by conveniently packing a shoebox gift online, with just a few simple clicks, at samaritanspurse.org/buildonline.
These simple shoebox gifts remind children around the world that they are loved and not forgotten.