Operation Christmas Child National Collection Week, Nov. 13 ­-- 20

Robin Caudell, The Press-Republican, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
·2 min read

Nov. 10—PLATTSBURGH — The First Assembly of God Church held its 2023 Operation Christmas Child packing party in October.

"We had it a little early," Rita Alford, area team coordinator, Operation Christmas Child, Northern Adirondack, said.

"To let children know they are loved and to give them a gift, maybe, for the first time. There are many places in the North Country doing packing parties, especially this weekend. It's not too late to pack a shoe box, and they can also pack it online."

As the Thanksgiving season approaches, many families and children are giving thanks for all their blessings and sharing those blessing with children in need by packing shoeboxes with Operation Christmas Child.

Shoebox gifts prepared by generous donors and filled with toys, personal care items, and school supplies may be dropped off now during National Collection Week, Nov. 13 — 20.

More than 4,500 drop-off sites are now open.

Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts to children worldwide for three decades.

In 2023, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoeboxes to reach another 11 million children. This season, there's still time for individuals, families, and groups to transform empty shoe boxes into fun gifts.

The project of Samaritan's Purse partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God's love to children in need. Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage: www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box/

"This season, children around the world need a tangible reminder that there is hope and that God loves them," Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse, said in a press release.

"Through these shoebox gifts packed with special items, children also receive the opportunity to hear about the eternal hope found in Jesus Christ."

Participants can use the online lookup tool to find the nearest drop-off location and hours of operation as they make plans to drop off their shoebox gifts.

It is searchable by city or ZIP code. Signs at each location will identify the drop off.

The Plattsburgh Drop-Off Center is located at First Assembly of God, 164 Prospect Ave. Phone, 518-563-5799.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, seeks to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.

This year, Operation Christmas Child will celebrate its 30th year of ministry.

Email: rcaudell@pressrepublican.com

Twitter@RobinCaudell