The Samaritan’s Purse project, a charitable program to bring Christmas cheer and much-needed supplies to children around the world, has set its National Collection Week for donations as Nov. 12-19.
Donors decorate and fill shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and hygiene items.
Bartlett volunteers hope to collect more than 29,000 gifts to contribute to Operation Christmas Child’s 2018 goal of reaching 11 million children in need. There are 5,000 drop-off locations in the U.S.
“We are honored to be linking arms with our community to help children around the world experience the true meaning of Christmas,” said Regional Director Todd Edwards, “These simple gifts show God’s love to children facing difficult circumstances.”
Mid-South collection sites and their operating hours are as follows.
Hope Church:
8500 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova.
Hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 12-17, 12:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 18, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 19.
Highland Heights Presbyterian Church:
2855 Morning Sun Road, Cordova.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 12-17, 1-4 p.m. Nov. 18, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 19.
First Baptist Church of Hickory Withe:
17675 Highway 196, Eads.
Hours: Noon-5 p.m. Nov. 12-16, 10 a.m.-noon Nov. 17, noon-4 p.m. Nov. 18, and 8-11 a.m. Nov. 19.
Covenant Baptist Church:
3170 S. Houston Levee Road, Germantown.
Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 12-17, 1-5 p.m. Nov. 18, and 9-11 a.m. Nov. 19.
First Evangelical Church:
735 Ridge Lake Blvd., Memphis.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 13, 3-7 p.m. Nov. 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 16, 9 a.m.- noon Nov. 17-18, and 9-11 a.m. Nov. 19.
Island Community Church:
721 N. Parkway, Memphis.
Hours: 5-7 p.m. Nov. 12-15, 3-5 p.m. Nov. 16, 2-4 p.m. Nov. 17, 9 a.m.-noon Nov. 18, and 9:30-11:30 a.m. Nov. 19.
First Baptist Church:
2105 Highway 59 South, Covington.
Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 12-13, 4-7:30 p.m. Nov. 14, 2-6 p.m. Nov. 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 16, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 17, 8:30 a.m.-noon Nov. 18, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 19.
Grace Community Church:
1880 Fite Road, Memphis.
Hours: 4-8 p.m. Nov. 12, 7-10 a.m. Nov. 13, 4-8 p.m. Nov. 14-15, 7-10 a.m. Nov. 16, 9-11 a.m. Nov. 17, noon-3 p.m. Nov. 18, and 8-10 a.m. Nov. 19.
For other locations, see the online drop-off locator at samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/drop-off-locations.
For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call (615) 962-7145 or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants can donate $9 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.
