For many children in the world, access to essential items is scarce, not to mention gifts and fun items. It is because of this that Samaritan’s Purse began the Operation Christmas Child Project.

The project delivers boxes of gifts to children in more than 100 countries in need, and Ellsworth has been helping with that cause for some time.

“Churches in Ellsworth County have been involved since 2005,” OCC Area Coordinator for Central Kansas Area Team Evelyn Hyde said. “In 2020, Wilson Baptist Church became the drop-off center for Ellsworth County.”

Samaritan’s Purse was founded in 1970 by missionary Bob Pierce. According to his writings, his goal was to find and support Christians who were caring for the poor and suffering in the distant corners of the world.

Though Pierce passed away of leukemia a mere eight years later, his legacy lived on through the foundation.

“I have been packing shoeboxes since my granddaughter was in first or second grade.

She is now a junior at Kansas State University,” Hyde said.

“I have been a drop-off team leader at the Community Bible Church in Minneapolis. Six years ago, I became the area coordinator.”

Her legacy lives on through more than packing boxes now.

“An area coordinator builds and leads a team of coordinators,” she said. “This year we have a church relations coordinator, a community relations coordinator and a prayer team coordinator. There are two positions without a coordinator which are logistic and student relations. As area coordinator, I am also responsible for logistic and student relations teams. Each coordinator builds and leads team members.”

In many of the communities, OCC also has year-round volunteers who go into churches, community groups, or student groups to explain the program.

Many of our groups collect items for shoe boxes all year and end the year with packing parties. Some communities do fundraising to cover the cost of shoeboxes as there is a suggested donation of $10 per box. This covers shipping and processing, The Greatest Gift Gospel booklet that is placed in each shoebox and the training material that is used in other countries to share the Gospel with the children.

“Our year-round volunteers check with churches and community groups to see what help is needed,” Hyde said. “The volunteers may order materials, provide videos or spiritual stories that come from children receiving shoe boxes. The more boxes we pack, the more children we reach for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.

This year, OCC will celebrate its 30th year of ministry.

“Every shoe box gift is a tool used to reach children who have never heard of Jesus,” Hyde said. “Each shoebox is filled with school supplies, hygiene items, toys, soccer balls, teddy bears, etc. God can use the gift of a shoebox to open hearts to receive His love. Each shoebox is shared with 7-10 individuals, so if one packs 10 boxes, 100 people are reached with the Gospel; 100 boxes reach 1,000 individuals. We are changing the eternal addresses of millions of people with one simple shoebox.”

Each year the organization rallies the troops for an extra donation push during National Collection Week. This year that week is Nov. 13-20. It’s a fairly simple task.

People can pack medium- sized shoeboxes with one special item, such as a toy. Along with that special item, the rest of the box can be packed with school supplies, personal hygiene items and other toys. Groups are separated by sex and age - 2-4, 5-9 and 10-14. It is suggested that a small note and/ or photo of who packed the box also be sent. In addition, a monetary donation of $10 is requested to cover the cost of shipping. Boxes can be taken to a number of drop-off locations.

“Operation Christmas Child is all about evangelism, discipleship and multiplication,” Hyde said. “The Gospel is shared with children and their families, then they are discipled to become disciple- makers and finally, the Gospel is multiplied as new churches are planted and the unreached people groups are being reached with the good news of Jesus Christ.”

Items can also be donated throughout the year. Readers can find more information at SamaritansPurse. org/occ. When you print your labels online, you can trace your box and find out which country it went to. You can also pack a shoebox online. You pick the items and volunteers will pack the box for you and even include your personal note.

If anyone is interested in volunteering as a year-round volunteer or would like more information about Operation Christmas Child, Hyde can be contacted at evelynhyde65@ gmail.com.

Donations may be dropped off at First Baptist Church, 2710 Avenue A Wilson, KS 67490.