Local churches need your help making Christmas brighter for children in war-torn and impoverished countries.
They’ve teamed up with Samaritan’s Purse and launched Operation Christmas Child. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 157 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.
photo: SamaritansPurse.org
This year’s campaign runs through Monday. The churches are collecting shoe boxes that contain hygiene items, toys, shoes, clothes, crayons, coloring books or fun items for needy children.
Barbara Hessong is helping lead the effort at Second Baptist Church at 6701 South Staples St.
Hessong said the shoe boxes could change a child’s life.
“We’ve heard stories of children not able to go to school because they didn’t have shoes,” she said.
“Then, the box that they got had the right shoes and the exact size that they needed. So, those kind of things. That’s how it can change childrens’ lives.”
Hessong said some may consider purchasing shoebox gifts for boys between the ages of 10 to 14. She said that’s the age group that’s received the least amount of shoe boxes in years past.
The “Operation Christmas Child” campaign launched on Nov. 12. So far, 680 shoe boxes have been collected but Hessong hopes to collect 8,000 boxes by the end of the drive.
If you’d like to help, here’s a list of the Local Collection Sites:
Corpus Christi
Second Baptist Church
6701 S Staples Street
Corpus Christi, TX 78413-5406
Wed, Nov. 14: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thu, Nov. 15: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 16: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 17: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 18: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Mon, Nov. 19: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Calallen Baptist Church
13505 IH-37
Corpus Christi TX 78410-4606
Wed, Nov. 14: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Thu, Nov. 15: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Thu, Nov. 15: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 16: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 16: 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 17: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 17: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 18: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Mon, Nov. 19: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Orange Grove
The Grove Baptist Church
610 S. Reynolds
Orange Grove, TX 78372
Wed, Nov. 14: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Thu, Nov. 15: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 16: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 17: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 18: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Mon, Nov. 19: 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Portland
First Baptist Church
1305 Wildcat Dr.
Portland TX 78374-2811
Wed, Nov. 14: 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Thu, Nov. 15: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 16: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 17: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 18: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Mon, Nov. 19: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
ROCKPORT
First Baptist Church
1515 N Live Oak St.
Rockport, TX 78382-3024
Wed, Nov. 14: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Thu, Nov. 15: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 16: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 17: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 18: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Mon, Nov. 19: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
For more information about Samaritan’s Purse, visit their website here.
