Operation Christmas Child sets November collection dates
While most people in the U.S. are preparing for holiday activities, Lake County volunteers with Operation Christmas Child — the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind — are filling shoe box gifts with toys, school supplies and hygiene items for needy children overseas.
This year-round project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, is ramping up as local businesses, churches and community groups prepare to collect 22,500 gift-filled shoe boxes during National Collection Week (Nov. 12-19).
Anyone can drop off a packed shoe box at one of the locations in Lake County. Then, using whatever means necessary the shoe box gifts will be hand-delivered to hurting children in 100 countries around the world.
Lake County collections sites and dates are:
Crossroads Church, 1350 Route 137, Grayslake, (800) 353-5949
Ÿ Monday, Nov. 12: 10 a.m. to noon, 6-8 p.m.
Ÿ Tuesday, Nov. 13: 10 a.m. to noon
Ÿ Wednesday, Nov. 14: 10 a.m. to noon, 4-7 p.m.
Ÿ Thursday, Nov. 15: 10 a.m. to noon
Ÿ Friday, Nov. 16: 10 a.m. to noon, 6-8 p.m.
Ÿ Saturday, Nov. 17: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ÿ Sunday, Nov. 18: 1-4 p.m.
Ÿ Monday, Nov. 19: 9 a.m. to noon
Harvest Bible Chapel, 255 Quentin Road, Lake Zurich, (800) 353-5949
Ÿ Monday, Nov. 12: 10 a.m. to noon
Ÿ Tuesday, Nov. 13: 5-8 p.m.
Ÿ Wednesday, Nov. 14: 10 a.m. to noon
Ÿ Thursday, Nov. 15: 5-8 p.m.
Ÿ Friday, Nov. 16: 5-8 p.m.
Ÿ Saturday, Nov. 17: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ÿ Sunday, Nov. 18: 1:30-5 p.m.
Ÿ Monday, Nov. 19: 9-10:30 a.m.
Meadowridge Baptist Church, 4500 Route 173, Zion, (800) 353-5949
Ÿ Monday, Nov. 12: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Ÿ Tuesday, Nov. 13: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Ÿ Wednesday, Nov. 14: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 5:30-8 p.m.
Ÿ Thursday, Nov. 15: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Ÿ Friday, Nov. 16: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 5-8 p.m.
Ÿ Saturday, Nov. 17: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ÿ Sunday, Nov. 18: 12:30-5 p.m.
Ÿ Monday, Nov. 19: 9-10:30 a.m.
Additional local collection sites can be found using the online ZIP code locator at www.samaritanspurse.org.
In 2012, Operation Christmas Child expects to reach a milestone — collecting and delivering shoe boxes to more than 100 million children since 1993. During that time, Operation Christmas Child has collected more than 94 million shoe box gifts and hand-delivered them to suffering children in more than 130 countries.
This year, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect another 9 million gift-filled shoe boxes.
For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call the local volunteer, Connie Pfeifer, at (847) 362-1569, or visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.