'Operation Christmas' on for school kids

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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause fear and uncertainty, Samaritan’s Purse is calling on churches and families to pack more shoebox gifts than ever before for “Operation Christmas Child,” making sure millions of children experience the great joy of the holiday. Samaritan’s Purse is committed to its mission of reaching millions of children across the globe with hope.

The Samaritan’s Purse project has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts - filled with school supplies, hygiene items and toys - to children worldwide for more than two decades. This is a mission project everyone can still be a part of, even with COVID-19 restrictions. Simply pack shoeboxes with school supplies, hygiene items and toys, then bring them to one of more than 4,000 drop-off locations during national collection week, Nov. 16 through Nov. 23. Drop-off location for Fairfield and surrounding areas will be the Round Prairie Baptist Church at 932 E. Main St. in Fairfield. Hours of drop-off are Monday, Nov. 16 through Friday, Nov. 20 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., as well as 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 21 and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 22. For more information about Fairfield drop-offs, contact Ruby Thornburg, drop-off leader, at 903-389-8643.

Other drop-off locations will be listed starting in early November at samaritanspurse.org and can be searched by city or zip code.

The organization also offers an option to virtually pack a shoebox gift. Through this online tool on the Samaritan Purse website, churches and groups can also set up a goal page to rally together to reach a larger goal. Whether the goal is 50 shoeboxes or 5,000, anyone can create a goal page and work together with church members, friends, and family.

Since 1993, ‘Operation Christmas Child’ has collected and delivered more than 178 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.