Local church collecting gifts for children in need around the globe

Posted 10/29/20

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Christian nonprofit Samaritan’s Purse is calling on churches and families to pack more shoebox gifts than ever before for Operation Christmas Child …

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Local church collecting gifts for children in need around the globe

Joy overwhelms a girl in the African nation of Namibia as she opens her gift-filled shoebox. Grace Point in Powell is collecting shoebox gifts to be distributed around the world.

Photo courtesy Samaritan’s Purse

More than 12.5 million children in Mexico have received a shoebox gift through Operation Christmas Child.

Photo courtesy Samaritan’s Purse

Posted Thursday, October 29, 2020 10:10 am

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Christian nonprofit Samaritan’s Purse is calling on churches and families to pack more shoebox gifts than ever before for Operation Christmas Child — making sure millions of children experience the good news and great joy of the holiday.

“Much of the world has been gripped with fear, and this is especially hard for children,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Now more than ever, these boys and girls need to know God loves them. Operation Christmas Child delivers the hope found only in Jesus Christ.”

The Samaritan’s Purse project has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts — filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys — to children worldwide for more than two decades, collecting and delivering more than 178 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

To participate, simply pack shoeboxes with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys. Then, bring them to Grace Point church (550 Kattenhorn Drive) during National Collection Week Nov. 16-23. For drop-off locations outside of Powell, or instructions, visit www.samaritanspurse.org and search by city or ZIP code.

Even if churches and groups are not yet meeting, families are encouraged to pack shoebox gifts at home. The organization also offers an option to virtually pack a shoebox gift.