Operation Christmas Child - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Operation Christmas Child

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November 8, 2004

Albany-- Needy children around the world will be receiving a bit of hope this Christmas--  direct from South Georgia.

Decorated shoe boxes filled with little gifts are being dropped off at Central Baptist Church at the corner off 3rd Avenue and Dawson Road.

From there, the boxes will be sent on to Atlanta, where volunteers will ship them to Russia, Sudan and Grenada.

It's part of Operation Christmas Child--a project started by Billy Graham's son.  The Central Baptist Pastor, Edd Spurlock, says "The local church takes those boxes and distributes them to the people and not only the boxes with the toys but a message about the gospel and so these children get the gift of hope as well as the toys from America."

The kids really like the gifts put in a rectangular plastic container, instead of shoe boxes--you can buy them cheaply at discount stores.

The church is collecting the boxes now, but the last day to drop them off is Monday, November 22nd.

How to Pack Your Shoe Box Gift:

1.  Find an empty shoe box.  You can wrap it if you would like.  You can also buy a plastic containor shaped like a shoe box, which is a gift in itself for the kids.

2.  Decide whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl and age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. 

3.  Fill the box with gifts like toys, school supplies, and hygiene items.  Suggested items are small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, yo-yos, toys that light up or make noise with extra batteries, pens, pencils, sharpener, crayons, markers, stamps and ink pad sets, solar calculators, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, comb, washcloth, hard candy, lollipops, mints, gum, sunglasses, flashlights with extra batteries, ball caps, socks, t-shirts, toy jewelry, hair-clips, watches, small picture books, etc.

DO NOT include used items, war-related items like toy guns and knives, perishable food items, liquids like shampoo, lotion, bubbles, medicines like vitamins, cough drops, or breakable items.

4.  Enclose 5.00 or more in an envelope for shipping and handling costs.  Checks can be made to Samaritan's Purse.  Place the envelope on top of the gift so it is clearly visible and use a rubber band to seal box and envelope.

5.  Drop off to nearest collection center.  To find one, call 1-800-353-5949

Posted at 4:20 p.m. by melissa.kill@walb.com