Operation Christmas Child is gearing up
By From staff reports
Published in News on September 28, 2014 1:50 AM
Once again this year, hundreds of Wayne County residents will gather up shoe boxes and stuff them with holiday gifts for children overseas who might not otherwise have a holiday.
Operation Christmas Child sends thousands of such boxes around the world every year to brighten the holiday for children in more than 130 countries.
And Adamsville Baptist Church will again serve as a collection center for the drive. Pinkney Baptist Church will again be a relay center.
Boxes should be aimed at a boy or girl of a specific age: 2-4 years old, 5-9 years old, or 10-14 years old. Boxes should be marked with a label indicating the sex and age of the intended child recipient.
Items suitable for packaging include toys such as dolls or stuffed animals, deflated soccer balls, school supplies such as pencils, crayons, notebooks and coloring books, non-liquid hygiene items such as toothbrushes, washcloths or combs, accessories such as socks, t-shirts, sunglasses or hair bands.
Do not include used or damaged items, war-related items such as toy guns or military figures, seeds, chocolate or food, liquids or lotions, vitamins or medicines or breakable items.
Official with Samaritan's Purse encourage donors to include $7 to help with shipping costs. Make checks out to Samaritan's Purse and note OCC on the memo line. Place it on top of the items in the box and wrap the box with a rubber band.
National collection week will be held Nov. 17-24.
Adamsville Baptist will be accepting boxes on these dates at these times, beginning on Monday, Nov. 17:
Monday: 2-8 p.m.; Tuesday, 2-6 p.m., Wednesday, 3-8 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m until noon and 2-6 p.m.; Friday, 3-5 p.m., Saturday, 3-5 p.m., Sunday, 1-8 p.m., and Monday, Nov. 24, 11 a.m. until noon.
Boxes will be accepted at Pinkney Baptist on these dates at these times, beginning on Monday, Nov. 17:
Monday, 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 3-8 p.m., Thursday, 10 a.m. until noon and 2-6 p.m.; Friay, 3-5 p.m., Saturday, 3-5 p.m., Sunday, 1-8 p.m., and Monday, Nov. 24, 11 a.m. until noon.
You can also send your shoebox directly to Samaritan's Purse by mailing it to: Samaritan's Purse, 801 Bamboo Road, Boone, NC 28607.
You may also include a photograph of you and your family.
For more information, call 1-800-353-5949 or visit the website of Samaritan's Purse, the charity that sponsors the program. The website is www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/go-boxes/.