FLORIDA (352today.com) – International relief organization Samaritan’s Purse launched the weeklong collection period for its Operation Christmas Child initiative on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025.
“Individuals, families and groups across Florida have the opportunity to pack a shoebox gift filled with fun toys, school supplies, and personal care items for children in need and drop them off now during National Collection Week, Nov. 17–24,” the organization said in an announcement. “Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts to children worldwide for more than three decades. In 2025, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect shoeboxes throughout Florida to help with the global goal to reach another 12 million children. The project of Samaritan’s Purse partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children in need.”
There are some 25 drop-off locations within 50 miles of the Ocala area. Those interested in donating can use this handy online locator to find a place nearby to deliver their shoeboxes.
Alternatively, folks can go to Operation Christmas Child’s online box-builder to create a collection of gifts matched to a child’s age, gender and needs, and even add their own photo and personal note for the recipient.
“Shoebox gifts built online go to the ends of the earth to children in some of the hardest-to-reach places—whether deep jungles, city slums, steep mountainsides, or one of the more than 1,000 remote Pacific islands,” Samaritan’s Purse said.