As Thanksgiving Day approaches, Wayne County families are expressing their gratitude by giving back. Residents are filling shoeboxes with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items to send to children in need around the world. For many of these children, it will be the first gift they have ever received.
During Operation Christmas Child’s National
Collection Week November 18-25, local residents will collect shoebox gifts at
drop-off locations in Wayne County. The Samaritan’s Purse project, partnering
with churches worldwide, will deliver these gifts to children in need.
Wayne County residents are not alone
in their effort to help children around the world. More than 150,000 U.S. volunteers
including families, churches and other groups are coming together to contribute
to the largest Christmas project of its kind. In 2019, Samaritan’s Purse hopes
to collect enough Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to reach 11 million
children, with many coming from the Wayne County area.
This year’s drop-off location times and dates include:
Green River Baptist Church in Waynesboro
Monday, Nov. 18: 4-6 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19: 4-6 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 20: 4-6 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 21: 4-6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 22: 4-6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 23: 12-2 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 24: 1-4 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 25: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
First Baptist Church of Clifton
Monday, Nov. 18: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 20: 5-7 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 21: 5-7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 22: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 23: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 24: 12 p.m.-2 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 25: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.
