Local volunteers to collect 250 shoebox gifts for children

Press release

This month, Havre’s Community Alliance Church will serve as a collection site for Operation Christmas Child — the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind.

The annual Samaritan’s Purse project is a favorite of many Havre 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, a press release says.

“Through the simple act of filling a shoebox, someone in Havre can make a tangible difference in the life of a child halfway around the world. Anyone can participate and bring joy to a child facing difficult circumstances,” said regional project director Michael Ishmael

At Community Alliance Church, 925 8th St., during National Collection Week, Nov. 16–23, anyone can drop off a gift-filled shoebox to send to a child overseas.

Havre residents hope to contribute 250 shoebox gifts to the 2015 global goal of reaching 11 million children in need.

Here are the times people can drop off donations:

• Monday, Nov. 16: 10 a.m.-noon, 6-8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Nov. 17: 10 a.m.-noon, 6-8 p.m.

• Wednesday, Nov. 18: 10 a.m.-noon, 6-8 p.m.

• Thursday, Nov. 19: 10 a.m.-noon, 6-8 p.m.

• Friday, Nov. 20: 10 a.m.-noon, 6-8 p.m.

• Sunday Nov. 22: 10 a.m.-noon, 6-8 p.m.

• Monday, Nov. 23: 10 a.m.-noon.

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.

For more information about how to participate in Operation Christmas Child call 253-572-1155.

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. These gifts of hope will go to children in some of the hardest-to-reach countries.