First Baptist Church in Blytheville will serve as one of some 4,000 sites nationwide collecting gift-filled shoeboxes for children overseas during Operation Christmas Child's National Collection Week, Nov. 16 -- 23. The annual Samaritan's Purse project is a favorite of many Blytheville residents, families, churches and groups who spread joy to millions of children in need by filling shoeboxes with a "wow" item--like a doll or soccer ball--as well as other fun toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement.
"We're excited to be a part of this effort to communicate love and hope, through simple gifts, to so many children around the world who are struggling from war, famine, poverty and natural disaster," said Victoria Blain of Blytheville. Blain will serve as the Relay Center Coordinator, managing operations at the drop-off site, where she hopes to collect and contribute 1,200 gift-filled shoeboxes toward the 2015 global goal of reaching 11 million children in need.
First Baptist Church's operating hours for the shoebox donations are: Monday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 18, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 19, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 20, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 22, 2-5 p.m.; and Monday, Nov. 23, 8-10 a.m.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 124 million children in more than 150 countries and territories. For many of these children, a gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.
For more information about how to participate in Operation Christmas Child locally, call 870-476-3594. With a computer or mobile device, anyone can conveniently pack a personalized Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift on the Samaritan's Purse website. Go to samaritanspurse.org/occ to select toys and gift items, write a note of encouragement and "pack" them in a shoebox. These gifts of hope will go to children in some of the hardest-to-reach countries.
Using special tracking technology, participants can follow their box to discover where in the world their gift is delivered by using the donation form found at samaritanspurse.org/occ.