This month, local families can make a global impact as multiple sites in Topeka and surrounding towns will be among 5,000 U.S. drop-off locations collecting shoebox gifts for children overseas during Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week, Nov. 18 – 25.
Topeka families, churches and groups are busy 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.
This year, Topeka area residents hope to collect more than 10,000 gifts to contribute to the 2019 global goal of reaching 11 million children in need.
“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 – and more and more every year.”
TOPEKA-AREA COLLECTION SITES:
First Southern Baptist Church, 1930 SW Gage Blvd, Topeka:
Monday, Nov. 18, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 21, 3 p. m. – 5 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 22, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 23, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 24, 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 25, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Northland Christian Church, 3102 NW Topeka Blvd, Topeka:
Monday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 21, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 22, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 24, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 25, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
First Baptist Church, 301 E Railroad St, Silver Lake:
Monday, Nov. 18, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 21, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 22, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 23, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 24, 1:30p.m. – 4 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 25, 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Auburn Christian Church, 1351 N. Washington, Auburn:
Monday, Nov. 18, 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 21, 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 22, 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 23, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 24, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 25, 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. 18, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 21, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 22, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 23, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 24, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 25, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
First Christian Church, 1000 Kentucky St, Lawrence:
Mon, Nov. 18: 5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Tue, Nov. 19: 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.
Wed, Nov. 20: 5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Thu, Nov. 21: 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.
Fri, Nov. 22: 5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 23: 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
Sun, Nov. 24: 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Mon, Nov. 25: 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.
For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 816-622-8316 , 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.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is 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 168 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.
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