Collecting shoeboxes for a world of children

While most people in the U.S. are preparing for holiday activities, Superior-area volunteers with Operation Christmas Child — the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind — are filling shoe box gifts with toys, school supplies and hygiene items for needy children overseas. This year-round project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, is ramping up as local businesses, churches and community groups prepare to collect 6,500 gift-filled shoe boxes during National Collection Week (Nov. 12 – 19).

Anyone can drop off a packed shoebox at one of two locations around the Superior area. Then, using whatever means necessary—trucks, trains, boats, bikes and even elephants—the shoebox gifts will be hand-delivered to hurting children in 100 countries around the world.

Collection sites include:

Maranatha Academy, 4916 S State Highway 35, Superior, (800) 353-5949, 1-4 p.m. Nov. 12-16 and Nov. 19; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 17-18.

Mount of Olives Baptist Church, 1500 Swan Lake Road, Duluth, MN 55811, (800) 353-5949. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov.12-13, Nov. 15-16, and Nov.19; noon to 8 p.m. Nov. 14; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 17; and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 18.

Additional local collection sites can be found using the online Zip Code locator at www.samaritanspurse.org.

In 2012, Operation Christmas Child expects to reach a milestone — collecting and delivering shoeboxes to more than 100 million children since 1993. During that time, Operation Christmas Child has collected more than 94 million shoebox gifts and hand-delivered them to suffering children in more than 130 countries. This year, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect another 9 million gift-filled shoeboxes.

Tags: community, religion, family, health, money