Operation Christmas Child, which began in 1993, serves children around the world by supplying them with items they are in need of while also sharing the love of Jesus. Warren County Team Leader Kay Stropes shares items that can be packed in the shoe boxes:
“They suggest that you get school stuff, so you have your pencils and your paper. They say get a wow gift. The wow gift would be for boys Matchbox cars, Legos, and then the girls dolls, Barbies, stuff like that. Then the school stuff continues to be pencils, pens, crayons, markers, little coloring books. If you get for an older girl, they like diaries, they like books to journal in; boys, balls to kick around. Then personal items: toothbrush, no liquids, you can’t put liquids in there of any kind, but you have your toothbrush, a washcloth, combs, and brushes. For the girls you can get the pretty hair stuff. Other than that you can put socks in there, if you get them small enough shoes, roll up a shirt, maybe some shorts, and underwear.”
National Collection Week for the Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes is November 18th through the 25th. Locally, they can be dropped off at Immanuel Baptist Church, 206 North Sunny Lane in Monmouth, Monday through Friday 5 to 7 pm, Saturday 10 am to noon, or on Sunday 12:30 to 2:30 pm.
Operation Christmas Child | Shoebox Outreach of Samaritan’s Purse (samaritanspurse.org)
