Finding Your Operation Christmas Child Collection Site
The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me — Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
WordJourney wholeheartedly endorses Operation Christmas Child, an outreach of Samaritan’s Purse, an organization that delivers shoe box sized gifts to more than eight million children annually in over one hundred countries. These boxes are packed by volunteers — every day folks like you and me.
Collection Week
Since the program was launched in the early 1990s, more than seventy million gifts have been distributed along with gospel packets as appropriate. This year’s campaign is well underway with collection week fast approaching.
In the US, the 2009 collection week runs from November 16-23; in Canada it runs from November 16-21. Shoe boxes are collected in several other countries too including Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Search locally for information pertaining to your country and collection times.
My church is participating in this year’s collection effort and, if all goes as expected, we’ll add several hundred boxes to the mix. My wife and I in addition to our two boys pack boxes each year and, as we usually do, we’ll get items for two boys and two girls.
Drop-Off Locations
People have asked me about collection points particularly when their church isn’t directly involved in the annual campaign. Thankfully, Samaritan’s Purse features a drop-off location page which makes it easy for people to find a location nearest to them.
Simply plug in your zip code and a list of places will pop up. In my area there were five returns including our region’s YMCA. Dates, drop off times and locations are featured, a helpful tool for those wanting to know.
Incidentally, I have found that the list offered by Samaritan’s Purse isn’t complete: our church isn’t listed neither is our LifeWay Christian Store which is a collection point.
Related Materials
If you want to participate in this year’s campaign, all you need is a shoe box as well as a willing heart. Pray for God’s guidance, especially as you shop. There is a child out there who will delight in your gift, therefore be mindful that whatever you purchase can positively impact that child’s life.
Online, you can learn about what sort of things can be packed in a shoe box as well as print out stickers and discover other details related to the campaign. Samaritan’s Purse asks that you contribute $7 per box to help defray shipping costs while they also accept donations if you prefer to give money directly.
Related Reading — A Shoebox Full of Love
Popularity: 12% [?]
