Local site for global Christmas project Nov. 13-20

This month, several locations in the multi-county West Central Indiana Area Team will serve as drop-off sites for the Samaritan’s Purse project, Operation Christmas Child — joining nearly 5,000 U.S. locations collecting gift-filled shoeboxes for children in need around the world.

During the project’s National Collection Week, Nov. 13-20, Greencastle residents will transform empty shoeboxes into gifts of hope filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys.

Operation Christmas Child will deliver these shoebox gifts to children affected by war, disease, disaster, poverty and famine.

This year, the West Central Indiana Area Team hopes to contribute more than 10,500 shoebox gifts toward the 2017 global goal of reaching 12 million children.

“We are honored to join the nationwide effort to collect gift-filled shoeboxes for children who may have never experienced the true meaning of Christmas,” Regional Manager Matt Reed said. “Through these simple gifts and a message of hope, children learn that God loves them and has not forgotten them.”

The local drop-off location is:

New Life Baptist Church

51 Ridgeway St., Greencastle

Monday, Nov. 13: 8 a.m.-noon

Tuesday, Nov. 14: 8 a.m.-noon

Wednesday, Nov. 15: 8 a.m.-noon

Thursday, Nov. 16: 8 a.m.-noon

Friday, Nov. 17: 8 a.m.-noon

Saturday, Nov. 18: 10 a.m.-noon

Sunday, Nov. 19: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 19: 5-8 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 20: 8 a.m.-noon