“Christmas in July” wonderfully accelerated our 2021 Operation Christmas Child campaign, but we need to keep the spirit of Christmas alive through September and October to share the Love of Jesus with children around the world.

We placed a Christmas tree at the front of the SUMC sanctuary for the July 25 services and asked church family to place donations for our 2021 Operation Christmas Child campaign beneath the tree. The results were astounding. Thank you!

We collected 50 pencil sharpeners, more than 40 notebooks, 31 boxes of colored pencils, 32 boxes of crayons and 21 boxes of markers. We also gathered erasers, glue sticks, scissors and metric-edged rulers. There were toothbrushes and adhesive bandages, socks and sunglasses, dinosaurs and toy cars, balls and hair accessories, and “wow” gifts.

In our 11th season, after sending more than 1,000 shoeboxes to the world’s children, the SUMC family continues to demonstrate a passion for sharing Christmas and Jesus with His children. The OCC team is encouraged and strengthened by your spirit. Thank you!

September will be our final formal month of seeking contributions for the 2021 OCC boxes. Together, we have packed at least 100 boxes in each of the past nine years.

Kara and daughters Elliett and Evarett have gloriously wrapped 80 shoeboxes in Christmas paper for our 2021 campaign.

To fill those boxes, we still have needs:

• Toothbrushes would be our greatest need. Since we launched in 2011, we have packed a toothbrush in every box.

• School supplies are always welcomed, and scissors, glue sticks and pens are our greatest needs as we enter September.

• We also include special gifts in every box, and T-shirts, socks, sunglasses, jewelry, hair accessories, balls, dolls, stuffed animals and toys help make the boxes special.

Details for packing events in October will be finalized and publicized in September. The boxes must be packed and delivered to collection sites in early November.