This month, several locations in Wood County and the surrounding area will serve as collection sites for
Operation Christmas Child which is the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind. The annual project
is a tradition for families, churches and groups to 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 Toledo volunteer David Zimmerman.
It is hoped through the various local collection points area residents will be able to contribute more
than 30,000 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 more
than 150 countries through Operation Christmas Child.
For many of these children, a gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.
The collection will take place beginning Monday and running through Nov. 24.
Wood County collection points include the following, listed with address and times to drop off completed
boxes:
• Dayspring Assembly of God, 17360 N. Dixie Highway, Bowling Green. Monday through Saturday daily 10 a.m.
– noon; Nov. 23 1 – 3 p.m. and Nov. 24, 9 – 10 a.m.
• CedarCreek Church, 29129 Lime City Road, Perrysburg. Monday through Friday daily 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.;
Nov. 22: 5  to 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 23, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Nov. 24, 10 a.m. to noon.
* Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 220 Cedar St., Pemberville. Monday through Friday daily 8:30
a.m. – 2 p.m.; Nov. 22 and 23  9 to 11 a.m.; and Nov. 24 8:30 to 10 a.m.
Additional sites for drop off include Waterville United Methodist Church, 102 N. 5th St., Waterville; and
Church of the Nazarene, 339 Sandusky St. Fostoria.
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 937-374-0761 or visit
samaritanspurse.org. National Collection Week for gift-filled shoeboxes is Nov. 17-24; however, shoebox
gifts are collected all year at the Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in Boone, North Carolina.
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."