Last year, local folks donated 5,790 gift-filled shoeboxes to Operation Christmas Child, billed as “the world’s largest Christmas project.” Organized by Samaritan’s Purse, an evangelical Christian organization based in North Carolina, the project saw more than 8 million home-packed gifts reaching children in countries all around the world.
This year, Operation Christmas Child is hoping to collect even more local largesse — its target is 6,200 boxes from families, children, churches, schools and civic organizations.
Step-by-step shoebox packing instructions and more information are available at www.samaritanspurse.org. School supplies, toys, personal hygiene and necessity items, hard candy and personal letters are encouraged.
The local collection site this year is the First Evangelical Church, 4120 N.E. St. Johns Road, Vancouver. Collections begin Nov. 15 and end Nov. 22. The times are 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Nov. 15-20, 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22.
To volunteer at the site, log on to the Samaritan’s Purse website or call the church at 360-695-4898.
