Christmas in July: The Woodlands Changing Lives Overseas; Shoebox Gift Recipient from West Africa Shares His Story

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, delivers gift-filled shoeboxes to millions of children in need each year. For years, The Woodlands??????? families have packed shoebox gifts for boys and girls around the world. One of these gifts reached Edouard Ndecky in West Africa when he was a young boy. Ndecky is now visiting The Woodlands?????????????? residents to share how the simple gift had a life-changing impact.

Ndecky will be telling his story to local groups and churches. He wants to encourage residents as they kick off the upcoming collection season to fill more shoeboxes with fun toys, school supplies and personal care items—contributing to the global goal of reaching 11 million children in Jesus’ Name.

Event details

• Sunday, July 16 – 9 and 10 a.m. Mims Baptist Church – 1609 Porter Road, Conroe, TX 77301

• Monday, July 17 – 11 a.m. Lakeside Bible Church (Pastors Lunch) – 18940 Freeport Dr., Montgomery, TX 77356

• Monday, July 17 – 6 p.m. April Sound Church – 67 -1/2 April Wind Dr. S, Montgomery, TX 77356

During Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week Nov. 13 – 20, The Woodlands???????????????????????? residents can bring gift-filled shoeboxes to multiple drop-off locations across the area to be announced in late October.

For more information, call 817-595-2230, or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement. Many shoeboxes built online go to hard-to-reach countries.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories. This year, Operation Christmas Child will celebrate its 30th year of ministry!

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