CLARKSVILLE, TN − Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, delivers gift-filled shoeboxes to millions of children in need each year. For years, Clarksville families have packed shoebox gifts for boys and girls around the world.
Mark and Cherry Brumbelow, who have helped to collect thousands of shoebox gifts, are now visiting Clarksville residents to share how these simple gifts had a life-changing impact. The Brumbelows will be telling their story to local groups and churches. They want to encourage residents as they kick off the upcoming collection season to fill more shoeboxes with fun toys, school supplies and personal care items—contributing to the global goal of reaching 12.6 million children in Jesus’ Name.
On Saturday, May 3 at 2 p.m., they will give a presentation at Memorial Baptist Church, 2450 State Highway 48.
The Brumbelows’ church, Grace Baptist in Wild Peach, Texas, had 30 members in 2014, when Pastor Brumbelow challenged them with a massive goal of filling 500 Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts for children in need around the world. That year the church packed 532. When Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas in 2017, the Brumbelows and many in their church experienced massive losses due to flooding damage. Despite the storm, Grace Baptist Church packed more than 8,000 shoebox gifts. In May of 2024, Grace Baptist Church packed their 100,000th shoebox gift – and that impactful number continues to grow!
During Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week Nov. 17-24, Clarksville residents can bring gift-filled shoeboxes to multiple drop-off locations across the area to be announced in late October.
For more information, call 615-962-7145, or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.