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Operation Christmas Child will hold its National Collection Week Nov. 17-24, with 10 drop-off locations across north central Arkansas accepting shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items for children in need around the world.
The annual campaign, organized by Samaritan’s Purse, collects gift-filled shoeboxes at more than 4,700 locations across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Local volunteers will staff collection sites throughout the week to receive donations.
Mountain Home area residents can drop off shoeboxes at EastSide Baptist Church, 626 E. 9th St., or First Baptist Church, 224 King Ave. in Mountain View. Both locations will accept donations during scheduled hours throughout the collection week.
“We are excited to be wrapping up the 2025 season of packing Gospel opportunities,” said Courtney Lantis, a church relations and media support team member for Operation Christmas Child’s North Central Arkansas Area Team.
Additional drop-off sites in the region include locations in Yellville, Viola, Jasper, Melbourne, Harrison, Marshall, Cherokee Village and Evening Shade. Each location maintains specific collection hours, with most sites offering multiple drop-off times throughout the week, including evening and weekend hours.
Donors pack shoeboxes with age-appropriate gifts such as toys, school supplies, hygiene items and personal notes. The boxes are then distributed to children in more than 100 countries, often in areas affected by war, poverty, natural disaster and disease.
Those unable to drop off a physical shoebox can build one online through the Operation Christmas Child website. The website also features a drop-off locator tool to find the nearest collection center and its operating hours.
For more information about local drop-off locations and times, contact Shari Alexander at (870) 404-1030 or Courtney Lantis at (573) 296-8641.
