Two sites in Baxter County and one in Fulton County will be among 5,000 U.S. drop-off locations collecting shoebox gifts for children overseas during Operation Christmas Child. National Collection Week is set for Nov. 12th-19th.
This year, residents in the two counties hope to collect almost 15,000 gifts to contribute to the 2018 global goal of reaching 11 million children in need.
During National Collection Week, Baxter and Fulton County families, churches and groups will be busy transforming empty shoeboxes into fun gifts of hope filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items.
The Samaritans Purse project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of Gods love to children affected by war, disease, disaster, poverty and famine. For many of these children, it will be the first gift they have ever received.
During the month of November, First Baptist Church of Viola will serve as a drop-off location for the Samaritans Purse project Operation Christmas Child.
Maranda Pingel, drop-off team leader for Fulton County, says for many of these children, their shoebox is the first gift they have ever received. It sends a message that God loves them, and they are not forgotten.
In Fulton County, Viola First Baptist Church, located at 9333 U.S. Highway 62 West, is serving as a drop-off location.
Drop off days and times are as follows: Monday, Nov. 13th, 3:00 until 5:00 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 14th, 3:00 until 5:00 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 15th, 3:00 until 5:00 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 16th: 10:00 a.m. until noon; Friday, Nov. 17th, 10:00 a.m. until noon; Saturday, Nov. 18th, 10:00 a.m. until noon; Sunday, Nov. 19th, noon until 2:00 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 20th, 8:00 until 10 a.m.
In Baxter County, East Side Baptist Church, located at 718 East Ninth Street in Mountain Home, and Galatia Assembly of God, located at 16580 State Highway 5 South in Norfork, will serve as drop-off locations.
Drop-off days and times at East Side Baptist Church are as follows: Monday, Nov. 12th, 1:00 until -4:00 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 13th, 2:00 until 4:00 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 14th, 2:00 until 4:00 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 15th, 2:00 until 4:00 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 16th, 2:00 until 4:00 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 17th, 2:00 until 4:00 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 18th, 3:00 until 5:00 p.m.; and Monday, Nov. 19th, 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Drop-off days and times at Galatia Assembly of God are as follows: Monday, Nov. 12th, 1:00 until3:00 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 13th, 1:00 until 3:00 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 14th, 1:00 until 3:00 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 15th, 1:00 until 3:00 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 16th, 1:00 until 3:00 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 17th, 10:00 a.m. until noon; Sunday, Nov. 18th, 1:00 until 3:00 p.m.; and
Monday, Nov. 19th, 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Participants can donate $9 per shoebox gift online through Follow Your Box and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline <http://samaritanspurse.org/buildonline> to select gifts matched to a childs specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.
In addition, Arvest Bank and North Central Arkansas Operation Christmas Child have teamed together to provide empty shoeboxes for anyone packing a shoebox. Shoeboxes are available at all three Mountain Home locations, and at the Harrison and Yellville sites.
For more information, contact Jennifer Baker at 870-421-3994, by email at jenbaker1951@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page: OCC North Central Arkansas.
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