Operation Christmas Child

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- Operation Christmas Child’s Collection Week kicked off today. Locations across the world are now accepting shoe box donations and Middle Georgia is too.

Operation Christmas Child is a project put on by Samaritan Purse. According to their website, the international relief has collected and delivered more than 135 million shoe boxes to children in need. This year, the organization’s goal is to reach 12 million shoe boxes and Middle Georgia is hoping to contribute 25,000 to that goal.

Pine Forest Baptist Church is one the five locations people can drop off their donations. Peggy Smith, organizer at the church, hopes that people will open up their hearts and contribute.

“We look reasons and ways to reach out to other people to encourage them to do more boxes,” Smith said.

Their goal is to collect shoe boxes filled with hygiene item, school supplies, and toys. Volunteer, Tricia Cooling says it’s rewarding to help children in need.

“They never had soap, or they never had their own tooth brush, they never had a hair bow,” Cooling said. “And just to understand that, and realize it that you’re providing that for a child, it will make you just happy and sad and joyful.”

The church has already collected 740 shoe boxes but they hope to reach 850.
“This is their Christmas. But not just their Christmas, they realize people care about them that people love them, people they don’t even know,” Cooling said.

Middle Georgia Locations:

Macon, GA – Pine Forest Baptist Church

1848 Tucker Road

Macon, GA 31220

Gray, GA – Greenwood Baptist Church

 Warner Robbins, GA- Shirley Hills Baptist Church

You can find your nearest location on https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/drop-off-locations/.