Next week, several locations will serve as collection sites for Operation Christmas Child – the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind. The annual project is a favorite of many Tioga County residents, families, churches and groups who help spread God’s love to millions of children around the world by filling shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and notes of encouragement.
“Operation Christmas Child is a fun project that makes a tangible difference in the life of a child facing difficult circumstances. Anyone can participate, whether young or old,” said Regional Director Gaye Newlun.
Through local collection points, Tioga County residents hope to contribute more than 11,000 gift-filled shoeboxes to the 2014 global goal of reaching 10 million needy children.
Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 113 million children in over 150 countries through Operation Christmas Child. For many of these children, a gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.
In Owego, shoeboxes will be collected at Lakeview Chapel located at 185 Day Hollow Rd. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 3 to 5 p.m., Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday from 1 to 2 p.m., and on Monday from 9 to 10 a.m.
For more information about how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call (518) 437-0690 or visit samaritanspurse.org.
National Collection Week for gift-filled shoeboxes is Nov. 17 to Nov. 24; however, shoebox gifts are collected all year at the Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in Boone, North Carolina.
Participants can track their boxes online to the country where they will be delivered. To track a shoebox gift, use the online donation form at samaritanspurse.org. Click on “Pack a Shoebox” / “Follow-Your-Box Label.”
