This month, locations in the St. George area will serve as collection sites for Operation Christmas Child—the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind. The annual Samaritan’s Purse project is a favorite of many St. George residents, families, churches, and groups who spread joy to millions of children around the world by filling shoeboxes with fun toys, school supplies, hygiene items, and notes of encouragement.
“Through the simple act of filling a shoebox, someone in St. George can make a tangible difference in the life of a child halfway around the world,” said project director Paul Fischbach. “Anyone can participate and bring joy to a child facing difficult circumstances.”
During National Collection Week, Nov. 16 through 23, Samaritan’s Purse hopes to contribute 450 gift-filled shoeboxes to the 2015 global goal of reaching 11 million children in need.
Local collection sites
St. George: Calvary Chapel, 3922 S. Pioneer Rd.
Mon, Nov. 16: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Tue, Nov. 17: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wed, Nov. 18: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thu, Nov. 19: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Fri, Nov. 20: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 21: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sun, Nov. 22: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Mon, Nov. 23: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Hurricane: Calvary Chapel Hurricane Valley, 1015 West 100 North
Mon, Nov. 16: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Tue, Nov. 17: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wed, Nov. 18: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Thu, Nov. 19: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Fri, Nov. 20: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 21: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Sun, Nov. 22: 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Mon, Nov. 23: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Hours are subject to change. A full list of area collection locations can be found online.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 124 million children in more than 150 countries and territories. For many of these children, the shoebox contains the first gifts they have ever received.
For more information about how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call (303) 745-9179. With a computer or mobile device, anyone can conveniently pack a personalized Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift on the Samaritan’s Purse website and select toys and gift items, write a note of encouragement, and “pack” them into a shoebox. These gifts of hope will go to children in some of the hardest-to-reach countries.
Using special tracking technology, participants can follow their box to discover where in the world their gift is delivered by using the donation form found at samaritanspurse.org/occ.
According to the Washington Post one out of five US schoolchildren are living below federal poverty line. How about we make a “tangible difference” in their lives!