Vermont Business Magazine Several locations in the northwestern corner of Vermont will serve as collection sites this year for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child—the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind. During National Collection Week, November 14 – 21, Residents in Chittenden, Franklin, Grand-Isle and Lamoille Counties will donate shoeboxes—filled with school supplies, hygiene items, notes of encouragement and fun toys, such as a doll or soccer ball—for Operation Christmas Child to deliver to children in need around the world. This year, residents hope to contribute more than 3,700 shoebox gifts toward the 2016 global goal of reaching 12 million children.
Child in Cambodia. Samaritan’s Purse photo.
“The shoebox gifts donated by the volunteers at these drop-off locations will shine a light of hope to children living in poverty overseas,” said Vermont Northwest Area volunteer Kathy Stetson, who has participated in Operation Christmas Child for ten years. “Anyone is welcome to pack a shoebox and help a child facing difficult circumstances to feel loved and not forgotten.”
COLLECTION SITES SERVING CHITTENDEN, FRANKLIN, GRAND-ISLE and LAMOILLE COUNTIES IN VERMONT:
Essex Junction, VT - Essex Alliance Church
37 Old Stage Road
Essex Junction, VT 05452
Mon Nov 14 2016: 8 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Tue Nov 15 2016: 3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wed Nov 16 2016: 8 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Thu Nov 17 2016: 8 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Fri Nov 18 2016: 3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Sat Nov 19 2016: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Sun Nov 20 2016: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Mon Nov 21 2016: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Morrisville, VT - Lamoille Valley Grace Brethren Church
14 Maple Street
Morrisville, VT 05661
Mon Nov 14 2016: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tue Nov 15 2016: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wed Nov 16 2016: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thu Nov 17 2016: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Fri Nov 18 2016: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sat Nov 19 2016: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sun Nov 20 2016: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Mon Nov 21 2016: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Richford, VT - First Baptist Church
33 School Street
Richford, VT 05476
Mon Nov 14 2016: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Tue Nov 15 2016: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Wed Nov 16 2016: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Thu Nov 17 2016: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Fri Nov 18 2016: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Sat Nov 19 2016: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Sun Nov 20 2016: 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Mon Nov 21 2016: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Saint Albans, VT - Church of the Rock
1091 Fairfax Road
Saint Albans, VT 05478
Mon Nov 14 2016: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Tue Nov 15 2016: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Wed Nov 16 2016: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Thu Nov 17 2016: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Fri Nov 18 2016: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Sat Nov 19 2016: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Sun Nov 20 2016: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Mon Nov 21 2016: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 802-848-3635 or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. By going online to give the suggested donation of $7 per shoebox gift, participants can follow their box to discover where in the world it will be delivered. They can also pack a shoebox gift online and even upload a photo and note of encouragement.
Source: Enosburg Falls, VT October 28, 2016—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 135 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 150 countries and territories. For many of these children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.