Sites in the Bradford area will be among 5,000 U.S. drop-off locations collecting shoebox gifts for children overseas during Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week, Nov. 18-25.
Bradford families, churches and groups are busy transforming empty shoe boxes into fun gifts filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items. The Samaritan’s Purse project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s 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.
Participants can donate $9 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination.
The First Baptist Church in Bradford, located at 71 Congress St., is the drop-off location, and collection times will be as follows: Nov. 18-19, 3 to 6 p.m.; Nov. 20, 1 to 4 p.m.; Nov. 21, 3 to 6 p.m.; Nov. 22, 3 to 7 p.m.; Nov. 23, noon to 5 p.m.; Nov. 24, 1 to 6 p.m.; and Nov. 25, 7 to 9 a.m.
This year, Bradford-area residents hope to collect more than 3,312 gifts to contribute to the 2019 global goal of reaching 11 million children.
“I love seeing the local community rally together for a global impact,” said Regional Director Bill Rumbaugh. “We see all ages getting involved –and more and more every year.”
Other local collection sites include Emporium First United Methodist Church and Faith Baptist Church in St. Marys.
For additional drop-off locations visit our drop-off locator online.
For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 410-772-7360, or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.
