Operation Christmas Child

Marco Presbyterian Church invites the community to take part in a gift drive that brings the spirit of Christmas and message of Jesus to underprivileged youths in isolated locations around the world. 

Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoeboxes filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys to children around the world since 1993. Nationwide, more than 4,700 locations will be collecting Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during the project’s National Collection Week, which runs from November 14 to November 24, 2025.  

This is a project that Marco Church has been taking part in for many years, led by Jim Stifler, a deacon at the church, and is a yearly outreach program for the church through their missions giving.  

“Marco Church has been collecting shoeboxes for over 21 years. This year we have Goodland Baptist Church, The Family Church, United Church of Marco Island, New Life Community Church and Venture Church participating as well.We expect to collect and ship over 1,600 shoebox gifts,” Stifler said. 

Each year the church hosts an annual packing party, purchasing items through the summer and fall, and then lining tables with all the items to be packed by congregants of all ages. Children and adults alike look forward to this event each year, not just for the ability to take part in blessing the world through the shoeboxes, but knowing that they are bringing hope to people with the truth of Jesus with each box completed. 

Over the years that Stifler has been involved, he has seen it grow in amazing ways with people finding unique opportunities to participate. This year one womanfrom Marco Church spent time sewing dolls, clothing, small bags and other items to be used at the packing party, giving her away to express her love for Jesus to others in a tangible way. 

The nationwide project has collected and delivered more than 232 million gift filled shoeboxes to children since its creation in 1993. The packages are distributed in “some of the most difficult to reach places on earth,” according to the Samaritan’s Purse website. “That includes areas that are hostile to the Gospel, places where whole people groups are yet unreached, and hundreds of remote Pacific islands…. from densely populated inner cities to deserts and jungles—even in places where the Name of Jesus has never been heard.”  

Gifts can be for boys or girls, broken down into three age groups: 2 to 4 years old, 5- to 9-year-old or 10- to 14-year-old. Suggested gift categories include: 

This is not just about delivering a gift and then disappearing the next day. Samaritan’s Purse works with local churches and ministries, so that each child who receives a shoebox has follow-up care. Many new churches have been created in remote places because of the impact on so many families hearing and responding to the Good News of the Gospel. 

The project provides the opportunity to make a huge difference, materially and spiritually, for those in need, said Stifler.  

Aside from serving as drop-off center, Marco Church serves as the central collection point for gift boxes collected at the other churches located on the island and along SR 951 to US 41. Once the collection period ends, Marco Church transports them to a central location site for Collier County, where they are then transported in tractor trailers to Samaritan’s Purse.  

Stifler says, “If you want to participate in this endeavor, go to one of the participating churches, pick up a shoebox, fill it with toys, school supplies, and clothing items, and return the box to that participating church by Sunday, November 23rd.” You can also use a sturdy shoebox that you have at home. 

There’s also the option of participating via the project’s website through the “Build a Box” program, which enables people to pick individual items for recipients for a charge of $30. You can go to marcochurch.com and click the box on the homepage that says “Operation Christmas Child”. This link will take you to a page about OCC and how you can build a box online. 

For more information about Operation Christmas Child,visit samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/endsoftheearth/. Marco Presbyterian Church is located at 875 West Elkcam Circle. For more information, visit marcochurch.com or call 239-394-8186.