Churches and families from Spring Hill and surrounding communities are busy packing shoebox gifts for Operation Christmas Child, a mission that reaches millions of children across the globe.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause fear and uncertainty, Samaritan’s Purse is calling on churches, like The Refuge in Spring Hill, and individuals and families to pack more shoebox gifts than ever for Operation Christmas Child—making sure millions of children experience the Good News and great joy of the holiday,” shared Suzie Treanor. Treanor, a Spring Hill resident, serves as Operation Christmas Child’s Drop-Off Center Team Leader at The Refuge Church in Spring Hill. “Even if churches and groups are not yet meeting, families are encouraged to pack shoebox gifts at home.”

For the first time ever, The Refuge Church in Spring Hill has been designated as an official Drop-Off Center for Operation Christmas Child’s packed shoeboxes. The Refuge is located at 2001 Campbell Station Parkway, Ste. A7 and is the only Drop-Off Center in Spring Hill.

Operation Christmas Child, a Samaritan’s Purse project, has been collecting and delivering shoeboxes to children worldwide for more than two decades. Shoeboxes are packed with gifts filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys “This is a mission project that everyone can still be a part of, even with COVID-19 restrictions,” said Tony Lollis, senior pastor at The Refuge. “Simply pack shoeboxes with gifts then bring them to The Refuge in Spring Hill, or one of the other local drop-off locations, during collection week.” National Collection Week is Nov. 16-23.

In addition to The Refuge Church in Spring Hill, the other drop-off locations in Williamson County are: Bethel World Outreach Church (Brentwood); First Baptist Church (Fairview); Full Life Assembly of God (Franklin); and Grassland Heights Baptist Church (Franklin). Drop off locations in Maury County are: Highland Park Baptist Church (Columbia) and The First Family First Baptist Church (Columbia).

Samaritan’s Purse is committed to its mission of reaching millions of children across the globe with hope. “Much of the world has been gripped with fear, and this is especially hard for children,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Now more than ever, these boys and girls need to know God loves them. Operation Christmas Child delivers the hope found only in Jesus Christ.”

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 178 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories. For information on how to pack a shoebox, and what should and should not be included, visit https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box/.