Three local churches will be serving as collection sites for the annual return of the Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during National Collection Week on Nov. 14-21.
Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts, which are filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys, to children worldwide since 1993. In 2022, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoeboxes to reach another 11 million children worldwide.
Individuals, families, and groups still have time to transform empty shoeboxes into fun gifts. The project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children in need.
“Now more than ever, children around the world need to know that God loves them and there is hope,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “A simple shoebox gift opens the door to share about the true hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ.”
Participants can find the nearest drop-off location and hours of operation as they make plans to drop off their shoebox gifts. The online lookup tool is searchable by City or ZIP code. Signs at each location will identify the drop-off.
Local sites include:
Calvary Baptist Church, 1408 Jackson Ave, Yazoo City
Monday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 15, 3-5 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 17, 3-5 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m. – noon; Sunday, Nov. 20, 1-3 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 21, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Concord Baptist Church, 610 Concord Church Road, Yazoo City
Monday, Nov. 14, 9-11 a.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 15, 9-11 a.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 16, 4-6 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 17, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 18, 9-11 a.m.; Saturday, Nov. 19, 8-10 a.m.; Sunday, Nov. 20, 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 21, 7-9 a.m.
Bethlehem Baptist Church, 2507 Fugate Road, Benton
Monday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 15, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 16, 4-7 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 17, 3-5 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 18, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 20, 1-3 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 21, 8-10 a.m.
Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 198 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories. This year, Operation Christmas Child will collect its 200-millionth shoebox.
