Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child is an annual ministry in which Glenwood Community Church has participated for many years. As a ministry of Samaritan's Purse, Operation Christmas Child is simple in premise: by providing a shoebox filled with both practical and playful gifts to a child in need, a doorway is opened for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be shared. Just as a gift given in love communicates to any one of us that we are loved and cared for, so does an Operation Christmas Child shoebox communicate to a child who may or may not know such love.

Suggestions For Your Shoebox:

• Pens, pencils, and sharpeners, crayons, markers, notebooks, paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc. You may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself, your family, or group. If you include your name and an address, the child may be able to write back. To see a full description of suggestions from Samaritan's Purse, click here or get a printable list.

• Shipping costs are $10 per box which also help cover the cost of the Gospel booklet and the training of the teachers. Each child is offered a choice to attend a twelve lesson discipleship class called, The Greatest Journey. The suggested donation to cover this cost is $6.

• If picking up and dropping off a box at Glenwood on a Sunday is not possible for you, you can come by during the week (Tuesday - Friday, 9:00am - 4:00pm) or you can go online to Samaritan's Purse to build a box. If you chose build a box online, please let us know, so we can include them in our church totals. 
   

Dates for 2023: October 27 - November 17

Glenwood Shoe Box Pick-ups: October 27 - November 10

Glenwood Shoe Box Drop Offs: November 10 - November 17

The most important thing you can do with your box is to PRAY for the child who receives it! Pray that this gift would start a relationship with someone from a local church and a relationship with Jesus. That this would radically change their life and family. Whether you filled 1 box or 10, pray for the children who will receive them.

For an overview of the Operation Christmas Child ministry, you can:

• Check out the Operation Christmas Child website.
• See how God has transformed lives: Stories, Photos and Videos.

Tracking Your Shoebox

1. If you've built your box online: visit the OCC Tracking Page and enter your email address. Once your box has been processed (mid December or mid January), it should show you the country destination.
2. If you've built a box and turned it into Glenwood: Scan the QR Code on your label OR visit the OCC Tracking Page and enter the tracking number under the barcode on your label. Once your box has been processed (mid December or mid January), it should show you the country destination.