Operation Christmas Child, an international children’s ministry, recently established a local year-round volunteer team in the Northern Pine Belt area. The team will work to promote the ministry in our area and will support Pine Belt residents who are participating in the shoebox ministry.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has been sharing the love of Jesus Christ with hurting children around the world. In 2014, over 10 million shoebox gifts were collected internationally from the United States and 10 other countries. So far, more than 120 million gift-filled shoeboxes have been distributed to children in more than 150 countries worldwide.

Over 100,000 U.S. volunteers are organized into local area teams to support, equip and encourage local donors in their shoebox ministry and introduce OCC to people who have not previously participated.

Jefferson Davis County has been served by the Hattiesburg area team, which included 11 counties in South Mississippi. In order to focus their efforts and better support area shoebox participants the Hattiesburg area team and the East Central MS area teams were recently divided and reorganized into the Northern Pine Belt, Southern Pine Belt and East Central area teams. The Northern Pine Belt area includes Jefferson Davis, Covington, Jones, Wayne, Clarke, Jasper, Smith, and Simpson counties.

The Covington/Jefferson Davis Baptist Association has served as the local drop off point for Operation Christmas Child for many years where Sara Johnson now deceased, served as Relay Center Coordinator. Stephenie Hayman will assume the role as Relay Center Coordinator.

The Northern Pine Belt area is currently participating in a “Build a Shoebox Online challenge.” For the month of July Operation Christmas Child volunteers and participants all over the Southeastern Region are competing to see which area can pack the most shoeboxes through OCC’s “Build a Shoebox Online” program. The program is available all year long for folks who may not have time or just don’t like to shop, but we are putting a special emphasis on it this month. You may bring hope and joy to a hurting child by virtually “packing” a shoebox. To join in and show your Pine Belt spirit simply go to the OCC Northern Pine Belt facebook page and look for the link to the NPB team challenge page. The cost is only $25 which includes the items to fill the box and the shipping cost of $7.

If you would like more information about Operation Christmas Child or about serving with the year-round volunteer team please contact either Stephenie Hayman at 662-571-3053 or Christie Daniels at 601-577-3098. You may also learn more at www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.