Families can make global impact through Operation Christmas Child

Sites in the Greencastle area will be among 5,000 U.S. drop-off locations collecting shoebox gifts for children overseas during Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week, Nov. 12-19.

Greencastle families, churches and groups are busy transforming empty shoeboxes into fun gifts filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items. The Samaritan’s Purse project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children affected by war, disease, disaster, poverty and famine. For many of these children, it will be the first gift they have ever received.

This year, Greencastle-area residents hope to collect more than 10,001 gifts to contribute to the 2018 global goal of reaching 11 million

“We are honored to be linking arms with our community to help children around the world experience the true meaning of Christmas,” Regional Director David Zimmerman said. “These simple gifts show God’s love to children facing difficult circumstances.”

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 937-374-0761, or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.

Participants can donate $9 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham.

New Life Baptist Church, 51 Ridgeway St., is the Greencastle drop-off site.

Hours for dropoff at New Life are 8 a.m.-noon Monday, Nov. 12 through Friday, Nov. 16, and 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Nov. 17 with 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. hours on Sunday, Nov. 18. Drop-off will conclude Monday, Nov. 19 from 8 a.m.-noon.