First Baptist Church looks for help with Operation Christmas Child

Published 11:38 am Saturday, November 21, 2015

Bainbridge First Baptist Church is collecting gift-filled shoeboxes to send to children in need.

Drop by the church, 8810 Madison Ave NE, during National Collection Week, Wednesday, Nov. 16 through Wednesday, Nov. 23, with your contribution for Operation Christmas Child.

The annual Samaritan’s Purse project is a favorite of many Bainbridge Island residents, who spread joy to millions of children around the world by filling shoeboxes with fun toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement.

Bainbridge Island residents hope to contribute 150 shoebox gifts to the 2015 global goal of reaching 11 million children in need.

“Through the simple act of filling a shoebox, someone in Bainbridge Island can make a tangible difference in the life of a child halfway around the world,” said regional project director Michael Ishmael. “Anyone can participate and bring joy to a child facing difficult circumstances,”

The drop-off schedule at Bainbridge First Baptist Church continues on:

Saturday, Nov. 21: 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 22: 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 23: 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Hours subject to change. A full list of area collection locations can be found online.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization. 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 253-572-1155.

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.

Using 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.