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PRESS RELEASE: Gift Recipient shares how MACON Families are making A GLOBAL impact with Operation Christmas Child Shoebox gifts
Macon, Ga., Sept. 30, 2026—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, Macon area families have packed shoebox gifts for boys and girls around the world. One of these gifts reached Lyda Giedd in Cambodia when she was a young girl. Giedd is now visiting Macon area residents to share how the simple gift had a life-changing impact.
Local groups and churches have the opportunity to hear Giedd share her story and remind the Macon community about the impact of packing shoebox gifts. Volunteers will come together to pack fun toys, personal care items, and school supplies for children in need across the globe. These gifts packed by the Macon community will contribute toward the global goal of reaching 12.8 million children with the hope of Jesus.
Event Details
- Thursday, October 8 at 6 p.m. – First Baptist Church (101 S. 2nd St. Cochran, GA 31014)
Life in Cambodia was hard in the years after war and genocide. Giedd and her mother suffered from extreme poverty and vulnerability, and it was soon clear that her single mother could not protect Giedd and provide for her at the same time. Giedd was welcomed into her uncle’s Christian family, where her uncle became like a father to her.
At twelve years old, Giedd attended an outreach event at her uncle’s church and received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift! Later, Giedd witnessed the Gospel impact in the lives of children through a simple shoebox gift and The Greatest Journey discipleship program.
During Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week Nov. 16 – 23, Macon residents can bring gift-filled shoeboxes to multiple drop-off locations across Georgia to be announced in late October.
For more information, call 770-777-9342 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.
Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 244 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 175 countries and territories.
