Red Bank — This month several locations in the Red Bank area will serve as collection sites for Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind. The annual project is a favorite of many Red Bank residents, families, churches and groups who help spread God’s love to millions of children around the world by filling shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and notes of encouragement.
“Operation Christmas Child is a fun project that makes a tangible difference in the life of a child facing difficult circumstances. Anyone can participate, whether young or old,” said Red Bank volunteer Starr Ramella.
Through local collection points, area residents hope to contribute 16,500 gift-filled shoeboxes to the 2014 global goal of reaching 10 million needy children. Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 113 million children in over 150 countries through Operation Christmas Child. For many of these children, a gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Through simple shoebox gifts and a message of hope through Jesus Christ, children learn they are loved and not forgotten.
For more information about how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 908-769-0287 or visit samaritanspurse.org. National Collection Week for gift-filled shoeboxes is Nov. 17-24.
Participants can track their boxes online to the country where they will be delivered. To track a shoebox gift, use the online donation form at samaritanspurse.org. Click on “Pack a Shoebox” / “Follow-Your-Box Label.”
Collection sites:
Colts Neck Community Church, 25 Merchants Way, Colts Neck
Hours: 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Presbyterian Church on the Hill, 10 Cold Indian Springs Road, Asbury Park
Hours: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., 4 to 6 p.m. Monday; 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday; 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to noon Friday and Saturday; noon to 1:30 Sunday.
A full list of area collection locations can be found online.
