The total number of shoeboxes collected in Adair County going into the final day of collection is 3364 boxes. This number surpasses last year’s total of 3300 shoeboxes.
Drop offs will continue on Monday, November 25, 2024, from 8amCT to 10amCT at the First Church of the Nazarene/Wheet Fellowship Hall, located at 1200 Jamestown Street Columbia, KY.
Members of the Sparksville Baptist Church are pictured after packing OCC shoebox gifts. Pictured are back row standing from left: Ellie Benson, Abigail McCosley, Felecia Morgan, Tim Morgan, Isaiah Morgan, Nathan McCosley, Gavin Carlson, Jonah Morgan, Benson Klingberg, Vicki Compton, Naoma McCosley, Ava Morgan, Brittany Klingberg, Grace Morrison and Brittany Klingberg. Front row: Cassy Carlson , Trinity Carlson, Betty Carlson, Caleb Morgan, Mark Harper, Rosanna McCosley, Lindsey Harper, Jill England, Shilah Durbin and Evie Morgan.
Katharina Baxter started packing shoebox gifts when she lived in Minnesota. This is the third year she has packed OCC shoeboxes. She said her favorite items for the boxes are hair stuff, school supplies, crayons and coloring books, homemade necklaces and small items that she puts in a Christmas stocking. She also said she prays over her box before she turns it in at the drop off location.
Doug and Debbie Cowan made their annual drop off for the Purdy Church Sunday afternoon.
Angie Pierce packs shoebox gifts almost every year and drops them off at the Wheet Fellowship Hall. These are the boxes she has packed for the 2024 shoebox campaign.
Greg and Diana Eastham puts Adair County over the 3300 total with their drop off of shoebox gifts. They made the drop off Sunday afternoon.
Kasey Blue Kessler has been packing shoeboxes for eight years. He started when he was only six years of age. For each year that he gets older, he adds a shoebox to his total number of boxes. Kasey packed 13 shoeboxes this year to celebrate his 13th birthday. He is the son of Eddie and Tiffany Kessler.
Kasey Kessler makes his shoeboxes very special by providing beautiful artwork on each box. Here is an example of some of his beautiful designs on his boxes.
Anna Huff has been dropping off shoebox gifts for the Reiber Nazarene Church for several years. This year the church was able to pack more boxes than ever before. She is pictured here with her husband Ralph Huff.
The Kuhns family has been dropping off shoebox gifts for several years. Pictured are Kelly Kuhns and her two sons, Wyatt, age 9 and Kasey age 6.
The Columbia First Church of the Nazarene packed shoebox gifts Sunday evening. The Columbia First Church of the Nazarene. Wheet Fellowship has served as the central drop off location in Adair County for several years.
Members of the Columbia First Church of the Nazarene pray over their boxes after their packing event Sunday evening.
(Mark Fudge – Operation Christmas Child)