UTICA — Christmas giving can begin well before the holiday rush. Churches around the Mohawk Valley are preparing to receive Operation Christmas Child Mohawk Valley shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, November 16–23, 2026.

The project invites residents to pack small boxes with new toys, school supplies and approved personal care items for children overseas. For a family, workplace or church group, October offers time to plan a manageable contribution, compare gift ideas and avoid a last-minute shopping scramble.

Participating in Operation Christmas Child Mohawk Valley is a great way to make a difference in the lives of children in need.

Samaritan’s Purse, the Christian organization behind the program, confirms this year’s collection dates in its official packing guide. A local report published October 12 identifies collection sites in Whitesboro, Barneveld, Mohawk, Rome, Verona, Leonardsville and Madison. Donors should confirm a site’s current hours through the organizer’s location finder before making a trip.

What the program does—and its religious mission

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse. According to the organization’s history, its shoebox work began in 1993 with gifts sent to children in the Balkans. The organization says more than 244 million children in over 175 countries and territories have received shoebox gifts since then.

The program combines gifts with Christian outreach. Samaritan’s Purse says local church partners distribute the boxes while sharing the Gospel, and some recipients are invited to a follow-up discipleship course. That religious purpose is part of the program and should be understood by people deciding whether to participate.

For Mohawk Valley readers, this is an opportunity to join an international giving project through nearby collection points. It is separate from local holiday drives that collect gifts for children in this region. Residents can choose the effort that best fits their priorities and budget.

Reported collection sites near Utica and Rome

The October 12 local report from Townsquare’s Lite 98.7 lists the following participating churches. These listings are attributed to that report; individual church participation and hours were not independently confirmed directly with each congregation.

• Whitesboro: Crosspoint Church, 317 Oriskany Boulevard.
• Barneveld: Centerpoint Church, 8021 State Route 12.
• Mohawk: Mohawk Reformed Church, 20 South Otsego Street.
• Rome: Resurrection Life Church, 628 Floyd Avenue.
• Verona: Verona Seventh Day Baptist, 6773 Blackmans Corners Road.
• Leonardsville: Living Stones, 2068 State Route 8.
• Madison: Resurrection Life Fellowship, 7065 State Route 20.

Use the official drop-off location finder, entering your city or ZIP code, to confirm where and when to deliver a box. Collection windows can be short and vary by day. A church’s normal worship schedule should not be treated as its shoebox collection schedule.

Build one thoughtful box

The organizer’s packing instructions call for an average-size cardboard or plastic shoebox. If you wrap it, wrap the lid and base separately. The gift label identifies a boy or girl and an age group: 2–4, 5–9 or 10–14.

Begin with a larger gift, such as a stuffed animal or a soccer ball with a pump, then add smaller approved items. The organizer encourages a personal note and photograph. Choose gifts with the intended child’s age in mind, rather than filling the box with whatever happens to be left over.

A practical approach is to lay everything on a table before packing. Check the current list, remove anything prohibited and make sure the lid fits. That final review is easier than trying to remember each item after the box is closed.

Check the rules: Soap is now prohibited

The current official gift suggestions include pencils, crayons, notebooks, toothbrushes, combs, washcloths, small toys and clothing. Toothbrushes are permitted; toothpaste is not.

Soap is no longer allowed. Samaritan’s Purse says it causes customs complications in some countries. The organization also prohibits food, candy, gum, liquids, medication, money, used or damaged items, breakable objects and war-related toys. Consult the complete current list for an item you are unsure about.

Keep an approved-item list beside you while shopping. Older advice, even from a previous successful collection, may contain items that are no longer accepted. If a store display suggests a product is suitable, check it against the organizer’s rules rather than relying on the display alone.

Plan the total cost before shopping

Samaritan’s Purse requests a $10 contribution per shoebox toward shipping, processing, evangelism materials and other project costs. Include that requested contribution in your plan along with the gifts and any box you purchase.

Set a comfortable spending limit first. One carefully selected box is a reasonable project; there is no need to promise a large number before knowing the cost. If friends want to help, agree on the budget and item list together so that several people do not buy the same supplies.

For a workplace collection, use a short written plan: how many boxes the group hopes to prepare, who is coordinating supplies, the packing date and the delivery date. Keep participation voluntary and make clear that the project includes religious outreach.

Assign one person to check the final contents and another to confirm the delivery window. If the person providing transportation becomes unavailable, a backup volunteer can prevent finished gifts from sitting in an office past the collection deadline.

A family activity with a clear purpose

For parents involving children, start with a conversation about the recipient rather than the number of items to buy. Ask which gift might be enjoyable, which supplies could be useful and how to choose items that fit inside the available space.

Children can help sort pencils, fold a washcloth or draw a friendly note. Adults should handle purchases, online donations and the final rules check. Keep the activity focused on thoughtful giving, without making assumptions about the particular child or community that will receive the box.

Take a photograph of the finished contents for your own reference before closing the lid. Keep the packing instructions and drop-off details with the box. Those small organizational steps make it easier to hand the project to another family member if needed.

Tracking and online participation

The organizer’s FAQ explains that an activated tracking label can show the destination country after processing and shipping. This does not promise contact with an individual recipient. Keep the donation receipt and label information if you intend to use that feature.

People who cannot assemble and deliver a physical box can explore the organizer’s Build a Shoebox Online option. Review the current cost and what it includes before choosing that route.

There is still time to organize a gift without rushing. Start with the current instructions, select a realistic budget and confirm the local delivery window. For residents who choose this program, preparation now can turn a small box into a carefully considered holiday contribution.

Sources: Samaritan’s Purse packing instructions, gift suggestions, history and FAQ; Lite 98.7/Townsquare local collection report. Information checked October 12, 2026.