This month, four locations in Lawrence County will serve as drop-off sites for the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child project, which provides shoeboxes filled with gifts, including school supplies, hygiene items and small toys for children living in poverty overseas.

Nearly 5,000 locations throughout the U.S. collect gift-filled shoeboxes for the project, helping children in need around the world during the holidays.

Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week is Nov. 13-20, and the collection sites will be taking donations for the project. This year, Lawrence County residents who donate will help contribute shoebox gifts toward the 2017 global goal of reaching 12 million children.

“We do shoeboxes, first of all, to help spread the joy of our Lord,” Proctorville resident Vickie Edwards, who serves as the drop off coordinator of the county’s central location, Tri-State Worship Center, said. “And second, to help a little person know someone loves and cares for them and that they are thought about and prayed for everyday.”

The Lawrence County Operation Christmas Child drop-off sites include:

Campbell Chapel Church, 1709 Campbell Drive, Ironton

• Monday, Nov. 13, 2-6 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2-6 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 16, 2-6 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 18, 3-5 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 19, 1-4 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 20, 10 a.m.-noon.

Tri-State Worship Center, 901 Solida Road, South Point

• Monday, Nov. 13, 4-7 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 14, 4-6 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 15, 4-6 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 16, 4-7 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 17, 4-6 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 18, noon-3 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 19, 1-4 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 20, noon-5 p.m.

Union Baptist Church, 10109 State Route 141, Kitts Hill

• Monday, Nov. 13, 4-7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 14, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 15, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 16, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 17, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 19, noon-2 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 20, 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Finley Chapel United Methodist Church, 1640 County Road 12, Proctorville

• Monday, Nov. 13, 5-7 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 14, 5-7 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 15, 5-7 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 16, 5-7 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 17, 5-7 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m.-noon.
• Sunday, Nov. 19, 5-7 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 20, 9-11 a.m.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, or to view gift suggestions, call 937-374-0761 or visit www.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 www.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.
Samaritan’s Purse is 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. Since it began in 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 146 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.