Operation Christmas Child begins shoebox campaign

Staff report

This month, several locations in the Youngstown area will serve as collection sites for Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind. The annual project asks participants to fill shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and notes of encouragement.

National collection week for gift filled shoeboxes is Nov. 17 through 24. However, shoebox gifts are collected all year at Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in Boone, N.C. Visit samaritanspurse.org.

Through local collection points, area residents can meet the goal of a collection of more than 7,000 shoeboxes to reach the global goal of helping 10 million needy children. Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has delivered gift-filled boxes to more than 113 million children in more than 150 countries through Operation Christmas Child.

For many children, the filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.

Local collection sites are:

Austintown

Tabernacle Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 2432 S. Raccoon Road, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 17, 18 and 21 and 22; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 19 and 20; noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 23; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 24.

Boardman

Calvary Baptist Church, 1463 Shields Road, noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 17 through 20 and Nov. 22 through 24 and noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 21.

Hubbard

Hubbard First Baptist Church, 59 Orchard Ave., 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 17, 19 and 21; 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 18, 20 and 24; 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Nov. 22; and 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 23.

Beloit

Beloit Evangelical Friends Church, 18042 Fifth St., 5:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 17 through 21; 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 22; 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 23; and 6 to 7 a.m. Nov. 24.

New Waterford

Abundant Life Fellowship, 46469 state Route 46, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 17, 18 and 20; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 19; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 21; 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 22; 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 23; and 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 24.