Submitted
Churches, civic organizations, and student groups across Hays are busily putting the finishing touches on shoebox gifts this week.
The Operation Christmas Child National Collection Week is Monday, Nov. 16, through Monday, Nov. 23.
Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization headquartered in Boone, N.C. Each year thousands of individuals fill simple shoeboxes with school supplies, small toys, and personal hygiene items. These shoeboxes are then collected at dropoff sites across the country and shipped to needy children throughout the world.
Ellis County has two sites where individuals may drop off their shoebox gifts, Messiah Lutheran Church and CrossPoint Church.
The dropoff times for Messiah Lutheran, 2000 Main St., are 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 16; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 17, 18, and 19; 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 20; 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 21; 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 22; and 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 23.
The dropoff times for CrossPoint, 1300 Harvest Road, are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 16; 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 17 and 18; 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 19 and 20; 10 a.m. to noon and 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 21; 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 22; and 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 23.
Rachel Albin of Hays, Operation Christmas Child coordinator for Northwest Kansas, said for many children the shoebox gift is the first gift they have ever received.
Each shoebox also contains a pamphlet in the child’s language telling them about Jesus and how much he loves them. Albin said for many children this is the first time they have ever heard about Jesus also.
After receiving their gifts, children have the option of enrolling in a free 12-week “Greatest Journey Program,” where they learn more about Jesus, Albin said.
In 2025, people in her district of Northwest Kansas packed 13,916 shoeboxes, Albin said. This is a 117 percent increase over the past nine years, she added. Naturally, she is hoping for even more shoeboxes this year.
According to a national newsletter, since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has distributed more than 244 million shoeboxes worldwide. This year’s goal is “more than 12 million shoeboxes,” the newsletter said.
Samaritan’s Purse also has an option where individuals may skip the shopping and the packing and simply pay for and build a shoebox online at https://www.samaritanspurse.org.