Operation Christmas Child is reaching out to millions of needy children by distributing simple shoe box gifts along with the good news of God’s greatest gift to the world – Jesus Christ. As the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, Operation Christmas Child collected more than 8.6 million shoe box gifts in 2011, but that number barely touches the millions of children still waiting to hear the simple, yet life-changing message of God’s love.
In 2012, Operation Christmas Child will prayerfully reach a milestone with more than 100 million children receiving shoe box gifts since 1993. Thanks to the support of MOPS groups, children in more than 100 impoverished or war-torn countries around the world are experiencing joy and answered prayers through shoe box gifts.
You play a valuable role in this worldwide effort to reach 100 million children, and we invite your MOPS group to participate in 2012. Operation Christmas Child has shipped resource kits to MOPS leaders to get the project started with their groups. Project materials are free and can be ordered on our website. We encourage you to host a shoe box packing party with your group, your family, your neighborhood, or church, but most of all, we encourage you to pray for the gifts you are sending. By packing shoe box gifts, caring moms, families, churches and groups can become the arms of Jesus Christ and reach out to a generation that is precious to Him. As a result, families and even entire communities can be changed for eternity.
Operation Christmas Child will be collecting gift-filled shoe boxes at
more than 3,500 drop-off sites in all 50 states and Puerto Rico during
National Collection Week, Nov. 12-19, 2012. To find a location near you, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.
"We look forward to OCC every year because it allows our whole family an opportunity to serve together. The experience has a tremendous impact on us, but the most amazing part is realizing the impact this project has on children and families all around the world. This is such an amazing way to see God's work!"
-Heather Garrett, MOPS member, Ft. Myers, FL | 
