Thank you very much for supporting Operation Christmas Child in 2023. You have made such a difference to so many children’s lives. You have given them a gift of love unconditionally. They will know that they are special and loved. I have been waiting until I knew details of where the boxes went to and to let you know the number of boxes that were packed.

The grand total of boxes packed and sent from all the sending countries was an enormous 11,330.126 - that is just under 11 and a half million, an increase from 2022. The UK sent 237,735 boxes which includes 27,141 ordered online.

Great Shelford Free Church collected 178 boxes including 87 which were packed at the Operation Christmas Child shoe box filling party. We also received 60 boxes from Tuckers. £199 was raised at the cake sale which went towards to transportation and training costs along with another £200 plus used to buy items. Amazing results!

These are the countries that boxes from the east of England went to: The Balkans, Central Asia, West Africa, Moldova, Romania, Belarus Serbia, Ukraine. In 2022 there were 5 million children who took part in “the Greatest journey” course and as a result, 3 million children gave their lives to the Lord. Amazing. That was possible because they received a shoebox in the first place. Very often the rest of the family starts coming to church as well.

Each month there will be a small box in the lobby, alongside the Food bank basket for specific items requested. For February donations of pencils/ crayons would be great. Many thanks on behalf of OCC.

Jane Furlow