Operation Christmas Child Collection Week November 14-21

CUSTER COUNTY—Gifts are delivered to children in need all around the world as part of the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child project. The national Operation Christmas Child “shoebox” Collection Week is November 14-21 and local donations can be dropped off at the Broken Bow Evangelical Free Church at 2079 Memorial Drive.

Local drop-off coordinator Kourtney Ogle will take the joy-filled boxes to North Platte and from there Operation Christmas Child will take the boxes to Denver to be sent around the world.

Drop Off Dates and Times at the Broken Bow E-Free Church:

Monday, November 14: 2-5 p.m.
Tuesday, November 15: 5-7 p.m.
Wednesday, November 16: 3-5 p.m.
Thursday, November 17: 5-7 p.m.
Friday, November 18: 8:30-11 a.m.
Saturday, November 19: 8:30-11 a.m.
Sunday, November 20: 2-4 p.m.
Monday, November 21: 8-10 a.m.

The Samaritan’s Purse gift project is a tangible way to demonstrate God’s love and involves packing a shoebox with hygiene items, school supplies, toys, and other items for kids. The organization has sent shoebox gifts to more than 198 million children in more than 170 countries/territories since 1993.

Kourtney Ogle said simply taking the time to pack a gift box could potentially change someone’s life.

“Every shoebox that goes out not only is filled with toys and gifts that these kids probably have never received before–it might be the very first Christmas present that they’ve ever received–but each box is going to have a booklet that’s going to have the good news and that good news is about Jesus, it’s the Gospel. That’s millions of Gospel opportunities that have gone out to these kids,” Ogle told KCNI/KBBN.

In addition to the gift distribution, Ogle said kids from around the world are invited to do a 12-lesson discipleship program with volunteers in their area to learn about Jesus and the Bible. Ogle said kids then share the Gospel with their families and new churches have even been built in areas that once were the recipients of Operation Christmas Child gifts.

Kourtney Ogle encourages people to pack a box with your kids, as a family, youth group, coworkers, etc.

“It’s just great for the kids because it teaches them the excitement of giving to someone who hasn’t received a gift before. So the joy of giving and being part of that, it’s great for kids and families,” Ogle said.

Boxes are sent all over the world, but a child will only receive a box one time. Whether it is a regular shoebox, a six-quart plastic box, or a pre-printed Operation Christmas Child specific box, volunteers can pack new,

Quality items such as:
Toys (balls, yo-yos, cars, dolls)
Hair accessories
Socks
School supplies
Notebooks
Crayons,
Non-liquid hygiene items (bars of soap, washcloths, toothbrushes, etc.)

Ogle said an important item to include is a “wow item” such as a doll, stuffed animal, a soccer ball with a pump, pair of shoes, clothing item, etc.

Prohibited Items:
Candy
Toothpaste
Gum,
Used/damaged items
War related items such as toy soldiers or toy weapons
Seeds
Food
Liquids
Lotions
Medications
Vitamins
Breakables/glass
Aerosol cans.

Decide whether you will pack a box for a girl or a boy, and the age category: 2–4, 5–9, or 10–14.

Box labels, tracking labels, and instructions on how to pack a shoebox can be found on the Samaritan’s Purse website. A $10 donation is also required with each shoebox. The donation covers shipping costs and also goes toward training local people in the churches to teach kids about Jesus and Gospel booklets.

Labels and donations can be completed online as well as build a shoebox online. Ogle told KCNI/KBBN it can be nice to include a note and picture and also encourages everyone to pray over their boxes. The goal for the local area is 1,000+ shoeboxes this year!

Once filled, shoeboxes can be dropped off at the Broken Bow Evangelical Free Church. Contact the church at 308-872-3000 or Kourtney Ogle at 308-870-1261 with any questions.

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