Operation Christmas Child (OCC) involves the entire community in collecting shoebox-sized packages of gifts for use domestically and abroad. Church of the Nativity serves as a packing and area distribution center for Operation Christmas Child. Over the years we have coordinated thousands of shoeboxes that passed through our doors and out into the wide world. Excitement flows through the parish hallway when our church community hears stories from places afar who have received shoe boxes at Christmas.

Operation Christmas Child is our opportunity to impact not only children but communities around
the world, bringing the light and love of Christ to millions. We are all called to the Church’s Great Commission: to spread His gospel to the ends of the earth.

This is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child who lives in poverty or under oppression and needs to know that someone cares. At Nativity, we collect donations for the boxes all year, delivered to the Sunday school office. Requested items include washcloths, bar soap, children’s toothbrushes, combs, pencils, small pads of paper, Crayola crayons (which don’t melt in the heat), coloring books, flip flops, small dolls, sunglasses, shorts, craft items and anything else a child might enjoy. 

Starting in mid-September, the actual boxes to be filled will be available in the narthex. The first Wednesday of November usually sees a morning packing party where all of the individual donations will be boxed up for delivery. The week before Thanksgiving, Operation Christmas Child picks up the boxes at Nativity. In 2022, Nativity collected over 200 boxes from within the parish and facilitated the collection of over 1700 boxes from the community! This is such a simple and meaningful way to help bring the Good News to children. 

Contact Lana or John Watson (jcwatson31@gmail.com orlanaewatson47@gmail.com) to sign up or for more information.

Operation Christmas Child, is a project of Samaritan’s Purse. We praise God for so many children whose lives have been changed as the result of a simple gift.