Hattiesburg, MS, November 14, 2016— Thousands of Pine Belt residents are on a mission to make a lasting impact on children in need. They are looking beyond their own wish lists and packing shoeboxes for boys and girls around the world—for many of the children, it will be the first gift they have ever received.
Nov. 14 – 21, Pine Belt residents will transform over 25,000 empty shoeboxes into gifts of hope filled with school supplies, hygiene items, notes of encouragement and fun toys, such as a doll or soccer ball. Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, will deliver these shoebox gifts to children overseas living in extreme poverty or affected by war, disease and natural disaster.
“This week the Southern Pine Belt community is focused on making a difference in the lives of children facing difficult circumstances,” said Hattiesburg volunteer Wayne Landers. “There is no joy quite like that of giving, and it is an honor to use our resources to let children around the world know they are loved and not forgotten.”
Southern Pine Belt residents are not alone in their effort to help children around the world. More than 150,000 volunteers including families, churches and other groups are linking arms across the country to contribute to the largest Christmas project of its kind. In 2016, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach 12 million children, with over 25,000 coming from the Pine Belt area. There are 13 sites that will serve as drop-off locations for shoebox gift donations during National Collection Week.
For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call Wayne Landers, 601-549-2685, Anna Lowery, 601-307-4039 or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. By going online to give the suggested donation of $7 per shoebox gift, participants can follow their box to discover where in the world it will be delivered. They can also pack a shoebox gift online and even upload a photo and note of encouragement.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is 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 135 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 150 countries and territories. For many of these children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.
Drop Off Points in our area….
Columbia, MS – Goss Baptist Church
20 Mark McArthur Drive
Columbia, MS 39429
Mon Nov 14 2016: 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Tue Nov 15 2016: 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Wed Nov 16 2016: 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Thu Nov 17 2016: 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Fri Nov 18 2016: 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Sat Nov 19 2016: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sun Nov 20 2016: 1:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Mon Nov 21 2016: 7 a.m. – 9 a.m
Sandy Hook, MS – Hurricane Creek Baptist Church
247 Hurricane Creek Church Road
Sandy Hook, MS 39478
Mon Nov 14 2016: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Tue Nov 15 2016: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Wed Nov 16 2016: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Thu Nov 17 2016: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Fri Nov 18 2016: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Sat Nov 19 2016: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Sun Nov 20 2016: 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Mon Nov 21 2016: 7 a.m. – 9 a.m.
Sumrall, MS – First Baptist Sumrall
169 Center Avenue
Sumrall, MS 39482
Mon Nov 14 2016: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Tue Nov 15 2016: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Wed Nov 16 2016: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Thu Nov 17 2016: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Fri Nov 18 2016: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sat Nov 19 2016: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sun Nov 20 2016: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Mon Nov 21 2016: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.