CLARE COLLECTS GIFTS FOR SAMARITAN’S PURSE AND

Nov. 16-23: Clare Hopes to Gather 225 Gift-Filled Shoe Boxes for Hurting Children Overseas

   Christmas is arriving early in Clare, as local school and church prepare to serve as collection points for Operation Christmas Child.  Soon, with the help of Clare volunteers, the sites will be brimming with festively wrapped shoeboxes full of gifts. 

   Through Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project, Clare residents are packing shoe box gifts for children in more than 100 countries suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty.  From Clare, the shoebox 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 a unique opportunity to do something as simple as packing a shoe box that will have a lasting impact on a child a world away,” said Andrea Graham, Operation Christmas Child drop-off site coordinator. “ We are excited about the 2009 collection season as community members have already begun packing shoe box gifts.”

   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 shoebox gifts and find out what country they are delivered to, use the EZ Give donation form found at www.samaritanspurse.org.

LOCAL COLLECTION SITES:

            First Baptist Church of Clare

            302 Wilcox Parkway

            Clare, MI 48617

            (800) 498-8535

            Mon. Nov. 16: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

            Tues. Nov. 17: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 

            Wed. Nov. 18: 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

            Skeels Christian School

            3956 N. M-18

            Gladwin, MI 48624

            (800) 498-8535

            Mon. Nov. 16 – Fri. Nov. 20: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

             Thurs. Nov. 19: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

             Fri. Nov. 20: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

             Sat. Nov. 21: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

             Sun. Nov. 22: 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.   

   This year, organizers hope to collect 225 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.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO GET INVOLVED:

           PREPARE—Enlist families, churches, scout troops, community groups and businesses to take part in creating shoebox gifts for needy children worldwide.

           PACK—Fill shoeboxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items, hard candy and a letter of encouragement.  Step-by-step shoebox packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org.

           PROCESS—Sign up to join Operation Christmas Child volunteers at the collection sites in Clare as part of the effort to prepare millions of shoebox 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.  National Collection Week is Nov. 16-23.