HFE Corp. aims to beat 2013 gift-box donation count

Herschend Family Entertainment Corp. is taking aim at raising 500,000 gift-filled shoeboxes for children next week, a goal to outstrip 2013 by 200,000 donations.

In its fifth year partnering with the the national Operation Christmas Child campaign, the Norcross, Ga.-based company will incentivize donations with theme park tickets for churches nationwide, according to a news release.

“We anticipate more than 2,000 churches will be involved in our program,” HFE President and CEO Joel Manby said in the release. “The shoeboxes they fill will play a significant role in brightening the lives of millions of children, many of whom have never before received any kind of present.”

The Nov. 17-24 fundraiser encourages donors to fill shoeboxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items, candy and encouraging letters to be dropped off at one of 4,000 collection sites. Last year, HFE properties and their communities generated over 300,000 shoeboxes.

In Springfield, participating churches are South Haven Baptist Church, 2353 S. Campbell Ave., and Crossway Baptist Church, 2900 N. Barnes Ave.

A project of Boone, N.C.-based Christian organization Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child got its start in 1993 and has since delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to over 113 million children in some 150 countries and territories, according to the release.