CULLMAN, Ala. – Local volunteers and churches preparing for this year’s Operation Christmas Child shoebox campaign are invited to attend one of several Project Leader Workshops in September, including a session in Cullman on Sunday, Sept.14, from 2-4 p.m. at St. Andrews Global Methodist Church, located at 615 Main Ave. SW.
Hosted by the Central Alabama Area Team of Operation Christmas Child, the workshops will equip project leaders and community members with tools and resources to support the 2025 shoebox drive. Attendees can expect free shoeboxes, snacks, door prizes and even the chance to secure early reservations to serve at a processing center.
“While billed for Project Leaders, those people in churches or groups who head up the shoebox effort for their organization, the workshops are actually open to everyone,” said Francie Smith, volunteer regional area coordinator for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. “This is an opportunity to learn more about the ministry of Operation Christmas Child, find out anything new for 2025, ask questions and enjoy snacks, win door prizes, receive free shoeboxes and have a fun time.”
Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, collects shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies and personal care items and delivers them to children in need around the world, with the goal of showing God’s love in a very real way. Since 1993, more than 232 million shoeboxes have been distributed in over 170 countries and territories. For many children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received. In 2025, Operation Christmas Child aims to reach 12.6 million children worldwide.
This year’s National Collection Week is set for Nov. 17–24, when Samaritan’s Purse will gather gift-filled shoeboxes at nearly 5,000 drop-off locations across all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
In addition to the Cullman event, workshops are also scheduled for:
- Sept. 6, 10 a.m.–noon at Walker County Baptist Association Office, 230 N. Walston Bridge Road, Jasper, AL, 35504
- Host – Jo Thomason, rthomason0848@charter.net, 205-300-1194
- Sept. 21, 2–4 p.m. at Lester Memorial Methodist Church, 108 Third Ave. E., Oneonta, AL 35121
- Host – Marla Smith, emnm@otelco.net, 205-542-2419
For more information or to RSVP, contact the event host listed for your location. For the Cullman workshop, reach out to Margie Belleson at mbelleson@gmail.com or 650-773-7419.
