BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Volunteers are preparing to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, Nov. 17 – 24. Nearly 5,000 drop-off locations will open across the country in November, including First Baptist Church in Inez and others in the region.
For Inez First Baptist, this will be the fourth year as a drop-off location led by Mary Lynn Horn of Inez, the year-round volunteer logistics coordinator. Church coordinators work together to engage, equip and mobilize Christian churches and partners to share the hope of Christ through Operation Christmas Child.
Mary Lynn’s husband, Jimmy Horn, serves year-round as the Big Sandy Area church relations coordinator, supervising coordinators in Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin and Pike counties.
“I believe we had 14 churches join us through packing shoeboxes or donating supplies or money for shipping,” Jimmy said of the 2024 event.
“We are thankful for individuals, organizations and churches who partner with us at Operation Christmas Child to share the Gospel through fun, full, and personalized shoeboxes. These gift shoeboxes show these children in a tangible way that someone loves them and that they may also experience the greatest gift of the Gospel.”
Last year, churches and partner organizations in Horn’s region set a goal of 5,500 shoeboxes and surpassed it by collecting 5,754.
Inez First Baptist and its support network collected 934 of those.
“We look forward to seeing how God continues to bless this ministry as we reach children in some of the darkest and most remote places on Earth,” Jimmy said. “God bless to each who participates.”
Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, has been collecting and delivering gift-filled shoeboxes to children around the world since 1993. Many of these children suffer from war, poverty, disease and disaster.
Participants can start with an average-sized cardboard or plastic shoebox. If they wrap it, they should cover the box and lid separately. Next, use a label on the shoebox to indicate whether it was packed for a boy or a girl and which age category: 2–4, 5–9, or 10–14.
For gifts, select a medium- to large-sized “wow” item, such as a soccer ball with a pump or a stuffed animal, then fill the box with other fun toys, school supplies, and personal care items. Include a personal note and photo.
Then pray for the child who will receive your shoebox gift.
Horn said a donation of $10 per box is critical to cover evangelism materials, shipping and other project costs.
Finally, drop off the shoebox at a drop-off location during National Collection Week, Nov. 17–24.
Inez First Baptist Church, 99 West Main Street, will collect shoeboxes on the following days:
Monday, Nov. 17: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 18: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 19: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 20: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 21: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 22: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 22: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 23: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 24: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.