Three local churches are drop-off sites

Three churches will serve as Lawrence County drop-off sites for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse that provides gift-filled shoeboxes to children living in poverty around the world for Christmas. Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week begins on Monday and runs through Monday, Nov. 19.

Items in need include school supplies, hygiene items and small toys. Drop-off sites in Lawrence County are the following, and are three of around 5,000 sites throughout the country:

Campbell Chapel Freewill Baptist Church, 1709 Campbell Drive, Ironton

• Monday, Nov. 12, 2-6 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2-6 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 15, 2-6 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 17, 3-5 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 18, 1-4 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m.-noon

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

• Monday, Nov. 12, 4-7 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 13, 4-7 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 14, 4-6 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 15, 4-7 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 16, 4-7 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 17, noon-3 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 18, 1-4 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 19, noon-6 p.m.

Union Baptist Church, 10109 State Route 141, Kitts Hill

• Monday, Nov. 12, 6-8 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 13, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 14, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 15, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 16, 6-8 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 18, noon-2 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 19, 8:30-10:30 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 also 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 evangelical organization headed by Franklin Graham, and the mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world.

Since Operation Christmas Child started in 1993, more than 146 million shoeboxes have been delivered to children in more than 160 countries and territories.