Christmas is arriving early all over Logansport, as local churches prepare to serve as collection points for Operation Christmas Child.
Soon, with the help of Logansport volunteers, the churches will be brimming with festively wrapped shoe boxes full of gifts.
Through Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project, Logansport residents are packing shoe box gifts for children in more than 100 countries suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty.
From Logansport, the shoe box gifts will be sorted and sent using whatever means necessary — sea containers, trucks, trains, airplanes, boats, camels, even dog sleds — to reach suffering children around the world.
“Operation Christmas Child is an opportunity that the Logansport area has embraced for the past 11 years,” said Carol Sikler, Operation Christmas Child drop-off site coordinator. “Through the years, this area has touched the lives of more than 5,000 children by doing something as simple as packing a shoe box that has a lasting impact a world away.
This ministry not only affects the children who receive the gifts, but the parents and extended family who see love in action.”
Operation Christmas Child uses tracking technology that allows donors to “follow your box” to the destination country where it will be hand-delivered to a child in need. To register shoe box gifts and find out what country they are delivered to, use the EZ Give donation form found at www.samaritanspurse.org.
In 2008, the Logansport area contributed 753 shoe box gifts to the Operation Christmas Child effort. This year, organizers hope to collect 1,800 gift-filled shoe boxes from families, kids, churches, schools and civic organizations in the area.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, has delivered more than 69 million gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children in some 130 countries.
Here is what people can do to get involved:
• PREPARE — Enlist families, churches, scout troops, community groups and businesses to take part in creating shoe box gifts for needy children worldwide.
• PACK — Fill shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items, hard candy and a letter of encouragement.
• PROCESS — Sign up to join Operation Christmas Child volunteers at collection sites in Logansport as part of the effort to prepare millions of shoe box gifts for delivery to underprivileged kids on six continents.
For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 937-374-0761 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org.
Where to donate
• Miami Baptist Church, 1368N 600E, Logansport
Today through Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon
Friday, by appointment only
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, 8 a.m. to noon
• New Life Alliance Church, 3529 High St., Logansport
Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to noon
Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Thursday and Friday, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, noon to 3 p.m.
• First Presbyterian Church, 104 N. Illinois St., Monticello
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Royal Center United Methodist Church, 204 S. Market St., Royal Center
Monday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Tuesday, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Thursday, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon
Sunday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at 574-732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com.
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Gift collection for children starts today
Donations go to world’s largest Christmas project.
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