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Hill to seek re-election to Georgia Senate
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Submitted report
Updated: Mar 2, 2018, 2:20 AM
Published: Mar 2, 2018, 2:21 AM

District 4 Sen. Jack Hill of Reidsville has announced his intention to seek a fourth term.
“There is much work to do,” Hill said, “to insure every citizen who seeks a job has one, every child receives the education they need and deserve, every community has the opportunity to grown as they aspire to and everyone has the opportunity to live, work and grow in a drug-free, safe and vibrant community.
“These goals continue to be my focus. I see the next few years as critical to the long-term prosperity of our area. Our proximity to the Georgia ports gives our area a unique opportunity to share in the economic prosperity that is currently here and on the horizon.”
“We must continue to support our colleges and technical colleges in this area to ensure citizens of all ages can gain a useful education and new skills,” Hill added. “I look forward to working with local leaders in the Fourth District to ensure that the state is doing all it can to support local efforts. Responsive constituent service will continue to be our goal. If I can ever be of assistance, please give me that opportunity.”
Hill serves as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and is the vice chair of the Rules Committee. He is a member of the Regulated Industries, Natural Resources and Environment committees and ex-officio member of the Finance Committee.
District 4 consists of Bulloch, Candler, Effingham and Evans counties and parts of Emmanuel and Tattnall counties.
Effingham Donates 6,900 Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child
Cohen Busbee packs a shoebox with toys, school supplies and personal care items for Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child. (Submitted photo)
Updated: Nov 26, 2025, 7:11 PM
Published: Nov 25, 2025, 2:28 PM

RINCON, Ga. — Effingham County’s generosity will soon be felt across the globe. Local churches, civic groups and residents combined to donate 6,900 gift-filled shoeboxes this year for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse that delivers presents — along with a message of Christian faith — to children in need around the world.

Volunteers fuel  participation

Among those helping lead the effort are Pat and James McElveen, who serve as project leaders for First Baptist Church of Rincon. The couple collects items for their church year-round, coordinates volunteers and helps involve people of all ages in the packing process, including seniors, Bible school groups and individuals from the Low Country Down Syndrome Society.

Operation Christmas Child, operated by the Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, aims to share the Gospel while providing what may be a child’s first gift. Each shoebox contains a “WOW” item, along with other small toys, personal care items, school supplies and clothing. Last year, the organization delivered nearly 12 million shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

Operation Christmas Child
James and Pat McElveen (back row) stand with Cohen (left) and Asa Busbee in a room where shoeboxes have been packed for Operation Christmas Child. (Submitted photo)

Churches, civic groups and residents all contribute

This year’s local total includes contributions from churches across the county — including First Baptist Rincon (5,100 shoeboxes) and Springfield Oaks (1,800 shoeboxes), which also serves as a drop-off site — along with Boy Scouts, high school groups and individual residents who pack boxes throughout the year. Pat said the wide community involvement is what makes the effort meaningful.

All 6,900 local boxes were delivered this week to Metter, where they will be transported to Atlanta for processing before being shipped around the world. Because many deliveries travel into remote regions, not every gift arrives by Christmas, and distributions continue throughout the year.

Once the shoeboxes reach their final destinations, each child receives both the gifts and a booklet explaining the Christian message in their language. For the McElveens and FBC Rincon, that message is at the heart of the project. ”It’s all about Jesus!”

With another successful collection completed, the McElveens say they are already preparing for next year and looking forward to the thousands of children who will once again open a shoebox packed by caring hands in Effingham County.