Local volunteers are collecting simple shoe box gifts personally packed by children, families and individuals. From Savannah, the shoe box gifts will be sorted and sent using whatever means necessary — sea containers, trucks, buses, trains, airplanes, helicopters, boats, camels, even dog sleds — to reach suffering children around the world.
“Savannah Christian Church is partnering with Operation Christmas Child to bring joy to children affected by war, poverty, disease and natural disasters,” said Laurie Slaughter, collection center coordinator. “Operation Christmas Child allows us to make a difference for thousands of children around the world.”
Right now you can join the effort to help the world’s largest Christmas project hand-deliver more than 8 million personalized gift-filled shoe boxes to children in some 90 countries suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, has delivered more than 54 million gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children in some 120 countries.
What you can do to get involved
Prepare: Enlist families, churches, scout troops, community groups and businesses to take part in creating shoe box gifts for needy children worldwide.
Pack: Fill shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items, candy and a letter of encouragement. Step-by-step shoe box packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org.
Process: Sign up to join Operation Christmas Child volunteers at collection sites in Savannah as part of the effort to prepare millions of shoe box gifts for delivery to underprivileged kids on six continents.
For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call (770) 777-9342 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org. National Collection Week is Nov. 12-19.
Local collection sites
Savannah Christian Church
55 Al Henderson Blvd.
Savannah, GA 31419
(912) 629-4757
Bull Street Baptist Church
17 E. Anderson
Savannah, GA 31410
(912) 236-1511
Goshen United Methodist Church
6227 Highway 21 S.
Rincon, GA 31326
(912) 826-2206
