Courtesy of Goldonna Baptist Church 

The Operation Christmas Child West Central Louisiana Area Team is excited and proud to announce that Goldonna Baptist Church will be opening its doors in November 2024 for the first time as a ‘Drop Off Location’ for the Operation Christmas Child West Central Louisiana Area. Goldonna Baptist Church has long been a supporter and participant in the Operation Christmas Child project.  Churches, organizations and individuals that participate in OCC will be able to drop off their gift-filled shoeboxes at Goldonna Baptist Church during National Collection Week that is slated for November 18-25, 2024.

Kristin Dupree is the Drop Off Team Leader at Goldonna Baptist and will be available to accept your shoebox gifts during National Collection Week. Goldonna Baptist joins FBC Winnfield in Winn Parish, Martin Baptist Church in Red River Parish, Calvary Baptist Church in Many, LA, Mitchell Baptist Church in Converse, LA in Sabine Parish, Robeline Baptist Church and FBC in Natchitoches Parish as a ‘Drop Off Location’. Hours of operation will be announced closer to National Collection Week.  

OCC is a project of Samaritan’s Purse that delivers gift-filled shoeboxes to children around the world in Jesus’ Name.  The shoebox is a tangible expression of God’s love as ministry partners share the Good News of Jesus Christ, God’s Greatest Gift.

Since 1993, OCC, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, has collected and delivered more than 220 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.  For many of these children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received. 

In 2023, over 11.3 million shoebox gifts were collected worldwide, over 10 million from the U.S. The 2024 Worldwide Goal is 12 million shoebox gifts, with 10.6 million of these from the U.S.  In 2023, the West Central Louisiana Area collected 17,025 shoebox gifts. The West Central Louisiana Area Goal for 2024 is 18,300 shoebox gifts.

Because of these gifts, the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been shared in some of the darkest corners of the world.  If you have never packed a shoebox, go to www.samaritanspurse.org/occ to find out how or ask an Area team member.  Why wouldn’t you want to be a part of sharing Jesus Christ around the world. . . . and without ever leaving home!