This month, the Community Church of Moab at 544 MiVida Drive will serve as a collection site for Operation Christmas Child – the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind.
Items can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. through Sunday, Nov. 22, and from 8 to 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 23.
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, a gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.
During National Collection Week, regional organizers hope to contribute more than 10,000 gift-filled shoeboxes to the 2015 global goal of reaching 11 million children in need who live in some of the hardest-to-reach countries.
The annual Samaritan’s Purse project is a favorite of many area residents, families, churches and groups who spread joy to millions of children around the world by filling shoeboxes with a “Wow!” item like a doll or soccer ball, or other fun toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement.
“Packing shoeboxes is a way to focus on something other than your normal, everyday stress,” said volunteer Aimee McBroom of Grand Junction, Colorado. “It provides basic needs for children around the globe. It shows them that someone does care, and it’s so much fun to do.”
With a computer or mobile device, anyone can pack a personalized Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift on the Samaritan’s Purse website. Go to samaritanspurse.org/occ to select toys and gift items, write a note of encouragement and “pack” them in a shoebox. Using special tracking technology, participants can follow their box to discover where in the world their gift ends up.
Items can be dropped off at Community Church through Nov. 23
It provides basic needs for children around the globe. It shows them that someone does care, and it’s so much fun to do
