With holiday supplies already covering the store shelves, area individuals, families, churches and groups are working to make Christmas a reality for needy kids around the world by filling shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement.

Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, is ramping up as Lawrence County residents prepare to collect 3,330 gift-filled shoeboxes during National Collection Week Nov. 18–25.

At local collection sites in Ironton, Kitts Hill, Proctorville and South Point, anyone can drop off a gift-filled shoebox to send to a child overseas. Then using whatever means necessary — trucks, trains, boats, bikes and even elephants — the shoebox gifts will be delivered to children worldwide.

For many children, the shoebox gift will be the first gift they have ever received.

 

IRONTON AREA COLLECTION SITES

Ironton Relay Center

Campbell Chapel Church

1709 Campbell Dr.

Ironton, OH. 45638

Operating Hours:

Monday, Nov. 18 and Tuesday, November 19, 4 to 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 21, 4 to 7 p.m.

Friday , Nov. 22, noon to 6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 23, noon- to 5 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 24, 1 to 3 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 25, 10 a.m. to noon

 

Kitts Hill Relay Center

Union Baptist Church

10029 State Route 141

Kitts Hill, OH 45645

Operating Hours:

Monday, Nov. 18, noon to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2 to 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2 to 6:30 p.m.

Thursday and Friday, Nov. 21-22, 2 to 6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 23, noon to 5 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 24, noon to 6:30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 25, 9- to 11 a.m.

 

Proctorville Relay Center

Finley Chapel UMC

County Road 12, Big Paddy Creek

Proctorville, OH 45669

Operating Hours:

Monday, Nov. 18- Friday, Nov. 22, 5- to 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 23, 10 a.m. to noon

Sunday, Nov. 24, 4 to 6 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 25, noon to 12:30 p.m.

 

South Point Relay Center

Tri-State Worship Center

802 Solida Rd.

South Point, OH 45669

Operating Hours:

Monday, Nov. 18 -Monday, Nov. 25, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

 

For more information regarding these collection locations, call 1-800-567-8580.

Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 100 million shoebox gifts to suffering children in more than 100 countries since 1993.