Operation Christmas Child set to reach milestone of 200 million shoeboxes
On the week before Thanksgiving, Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child will achieve a milestone, as it is set to reach 200 million shoeboxes donated for needy families all over the world.
From now through Monday, Nov. 21, is National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child, where people fill shoeboxes with gifts, including toys, hygiene items and school supplies. These may be dropped off at more than 4,500 drop-off sites which are now open, including sites in the three counties (Henderson, Transylvania and Polk) in the Times-News coverage area.
Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts to children worldwide for nearly three decades, the release said. The project of Samaritan’s Purse partners with local churches across the world to deliver these to children and families in need. Steps on how to pack a shoebox are at this website: https://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,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, in the 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 find the nearest drop-off location and hours of operation as they make plans to drop off their shoebox gifts at SamaritansPurse.org. The online lookup tool is searchable by city or ZIP code, and signs at each location will identify the drop off.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 198 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.
Drop-off sites in Henderson, Transylvania and Polk counties are listed below.
HENDERSON COUNTY
French Broad Baptist Church
182 Grandview Lane, Hendersonville
Wed, Nov. 16: 3-6 p.m.
Thu, Nov. 17: 3-6 p.m.
Fri, Nov. 18: 3-6 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 19: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sun, Nov. 20: 1-5 p.m.
Mon, Nov. 21: 9-11:30 a.m.
Hendersonville Presbyterian Church
699 N Grove St., Hendersonville
Wed, Nov. 16: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Thu, Nov. 17: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Fri, Nov. 18: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 19: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sun, Nov. 20: 12:30-4 p.m.
Mon, Nov. 21: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Mount Moriah Baptist Church
635 Gilliam Mountain Rd., Hendersonville
Wed, Nov. 16: 3-6 p.m.
Thu, Nov. 17: 3-6 p.m.
Fri, Nov. 18: 3-6 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 19: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sun, Nov. 20: 4-8 p.m.
Mon, Nov. 21: 9 a.m.-noon
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY
Little River Baptist Church
51 Little River Church Rd., Penrose
Wed, Nov. 16: 2-4 p.m.
Thu, Nov. 17: 2-4 p.m.
Fri, Nov. 18: 10 a.m.-noon
Sat, Nov. 19: 10 a.m.-noon
Sun, Nov. 20: 1:30-4 p.m.
Mon, Nov. 21: 9-11:30 a.m.
Brevard Wesleyan Church
583 N Broad St., Brevard
Wed, Nov. 16: 2-5 p.m.
Thu, Nov. 17: 2-5 p.m.
Fri, Nov. 18: 2-5 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 19: 2-4 p.m.
Sun, Nov. 20: 2-4 p.m.
Mon, Nov. 21: 9 a.m.-noon
POLK COUNTY
Polk County Baptist Association
208 Blanton St., Columbus
Wed, Nov. 16: 9 a.m.-noon
Thu, Nov. 17: 5-8 p.m.
Fri, Nov. 18: 5-8 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 19: 9-11 a.m.
Sun, Nov. 20: 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Mon, Nov. 21: 8-10 a.m.
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Operation Christmas Child set to reach milestone of 200 million shoeboxes
