MEEKER I In November, Meeker will serve as a collection site for Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind.
The annual Samaritan’s Purse project is a favorite of many area residents, families, churches and groups that spread joy to millions of children around the world by filling shoeboxes with a “Wow!” item—like a doll or soccer ball—other fun toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement.
“Packing shoeboxes is a way to focus on something other than your normal, everyday stress; it provides basic needs for children around the globe and it shows them that someone does care, and it’s so much fun to do!” said Grand Junction volunteer Aimee McBroom, who has participated in Operation Christmas Child for more than 10 years.
During National Collection Week, Nov. 16-23, Western Slope residents hope to contribute more than 10,000 gift-filled shoeboxes to the 2015 global goal of reaching 11 million children in need.
The Meeker collection site is Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1191 Market St., Meeker. The phone number is 970-878-3164. Collection times are: Nov. 16-21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.; Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; and Nov. 23 from 8:30 to 10 a.m.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 124 million children in more than 150 countries and territories. For many of these children, a gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.
For more information about how to participate in Operation Christmas Child call 970-878-5162. With a computer or mobile device, anyone can conveniently pack a personalized Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift on the Samaritan’s Purse website. Go to samaritanspurse.org/occ to select toys and gift items, write a note of encouragement and “pack” them in a shoebox. These gifts of hope will go to children in some of the hardest-to-reach countries.
Usng special tracking technology, participants can follow their box to discover where in the world their gift is delivered by using the donation form found at samaritanspurse.org/occ.
