BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Dedicated Inez First Baptist Church members have partnered with other area churches to make the 2023 Operation Christmas Child project a greater success than ever before.

Since its beginning in 1993, OCC has brightened the lives of needy children around the globe by collecting shoe boxes filled with small gifts and needed school supplies, getting them into the hands that need them the most. For only the second time in the organization’s history, a collection location is set up in Martin County to make it easier for residents to drop off their donations.

Deacon Jimmy Horn and his wife Mary Lynn of Inez have been involved with the shoebox project for many years. They are joined this year by fellow church members and individuals from six area churches, with the possibility of an additional two being added to that list.

“In order to be a considered a regional collection location, our church had to sponsor a Project Leader Workshop, and we were blessed to be able to do that on Aug. 26,” said Horn. “We are extremely excited and blessed to announce our partnership with six area churches for this year’s collection.”

Those churches are Freedom Free Will Baptist, the Golden Memorial Methodist Church, the Salt Well Church of Christ, Meade’s Branch Free Will Baptist, the Warfield Missionary Baptist Church and the Turkey Church of the Nazarene.

Horn has also met with leaders from the Calvary Temple and Trinity Free Will Baptist Church, hoping they can soon be added to the list of those participating.

The Samaritan’s Purse is the parent organization for OCC, and this is only one of the events they sponsor. The goal of the Christmas project is to collect shoebox gifts filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene products, to name a few, then deliver them to children in need around the world to demonstrate God’s love.

“These boxes are often the first Christmas gift some children have ever received,” remarked Horn. “Even if they have been told about Christmas and its meaning, they live in extremely poor conditions where necessities are not often available, let alone the luxury of a gift. Receiving a shoebox filled with small gifts, toys and/or hygiene products is something they will remember for a lifetime.”

OCC is the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, having collected and delivered more than 198 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 170 countries and territories.

Last year, the project collected their 200th million shoebox, meeting a goal set by organizers and volunteers several years ago,” said Horn.

“Anyone can pack a shoebox, including individuals, families, churches and groups. You are encouraged to fill them with your chosen items and then mark them as being for a specific age group (2-4, 5-9, and 10-14), and if the items are meant for a girl or boy,” stated Horn. “Bring them to our church no later than Nov. 20, and we’ll take them from there. We also ask everyone who can afford it to include a $10 donation to help offset the shipping cost.”

All boxes must be turned in no later than Nov. 20.

Items not allowed include candy, toothpaste, any items that are used or damaged, scary or war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures, seeds, chocolate or other food, liquids or lotions, medications or vitamins, and anything breakable such as snow globes or glass containers. Aerosol cans are prohibited.

“If you want to include a larger inflatable gift, such as a soccer ball, please deflate it and include a hand pump so it can be inflated on arrival,” said Horn. “Make sure you use a regular-size shoebox, not the larger ones since they must be packed in larger containers for shipping. A small plastic tote with a lid the size of a shoebox is also acceptable and will provide the child with a secure place for later use to keep their gifts or other items important to them.”

Some suggestions Horn provided include matchbox cars, dolls, coloring books, crayons and school supplies, including a pencil sharpener. Another suggestion is to take time to decorate the box. If you are comfortable doing so, place a note inside the box wishing the child a Merry Christmas and include your name and address in case the child wants to correspond.

“I tell everyone to pray over the box and ask God to lead you to include items meant for that special child that will receive your box,” said Horn. “You never know what your gift will mean or how it will touch the child’s life.”

For more information, Horn at 606-626-5666, or drop the boxes by the church at 99 North Main Street, Inez.