Metro Voice News Celebrating Faith, Family & Community
More than 4,000 locations will now offer a curbside drop-off option for the Samaritan’s Purse project, Operation Christmas Child. Volunteers are preparing to collect shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, Nov. 16 – 23.
Topeka families, churches and groups will be busy the next few weeks transforming empty shoeboxes into fun gifts filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items. The Samaritan’s Purse project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children in need. For many of these children, it will be the first gift they have ever received.
“I love seeing the local community rally together for a global impact,” said area volunteer Sabrina Scheerer, who has participated in Operation Christmas Child for 10 years. “We see all ages getting involved.”
Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts – filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys – to children worldwide for more than two decades. This is a project that everyone can still be a part of, even with COVID-19 restrictions.
READ: Operation Christmas Child hopes to brighten life for world’s children despite ongoing pandemic
There’s still time for individuals, families, and groups to transform empty shoeboxes into fun gifts. The project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children in need. Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage.
“In the midst of the pandemic, the needs are greater than ever before,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Children around the world need to know that God loves them and there is hope. A simple shoebox gift opens the door to share about the true hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ.”
Participants can find the nearest drop-off location and hours of operation as they make plans to drop off their shoebox gifts. The online lookup tool is searchable by City or ZIP code. Signs at each location will identify the curbside drop off.
TOPEKA-AREA COLLECTION SITES:
First Southern Baptist Church, 1930 SW Gage Blvd, Topeka:
Monday, Nov. 16, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 19, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 22, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Northland Christian Church, 3102 NW Topeka Blvd, Topeka:
Monday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 19, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 20, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 22, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 23, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
First Baptist Church, 301 E Railroad St, Silver Lake:
Monday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 21, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 22, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 23, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Auburn Christian Church, 1351 N Washington, Auburn:
Monday, Nov. 16, 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 19, 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 22, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 23, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
First Baptist Church, 404 Juniper Dr, Holton
Monday, Nov. 18, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 20,12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 22, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 23, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 24, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 25, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Cross Road Community Church, 512 S Mason St, Scranton
Monday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 19, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 20, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 22, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
First Christian Church, 404 Juniper, Holton
Monday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 19, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 20, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 22, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
First Christian Church, 1000 Kentucky St, Lawrence:
Mon, Nov. 16: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Tue, Nov. 17: 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Wed, Nov. 18: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Thu, Nov. 19: 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Fri, Nov. 20: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Sat, Nov. 21: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sun, Nov. 22: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Mon, Nov. 23: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Those interested in more information on how Operation Christmas Child is making adjustments during its National Collection Week can visit the organization’s Important COVID-19 Updates webpage for the latest information and answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. 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.
–Lee Hartman | Metro Voice
Go here to visit the Topeka Metro Voice Facebook page for local event notices, breaking news and local announcements. To help us spread the word, and to continue seeing our posts on your Facebook feed, “Like” the page and then like or share a story now and then, so that they will keep showing up in your feed.
