Operation Christmas Child Gears Up for Drop-Off

Operation Christmas Child volunteers are preparing for the safe collection of hundreds of Christmas packages Nov. 15-21, when donors may donate their shoeboxes filled with gifts curbside at First Baptist Church, 610 N. 5th Ave. in Sturgeon Bay. Volunteers will be ready to unload the filled shoeboxes, and paperwork can be completed digitally curbside or written down on paper. There’s no need for donors to leave their vehicle! 

The shoebox gifts are distributed in more than 110 countries worldwide, traveling by plane, ship, bicycle, mule, camel and canoe. 

Items to include in the shoebox gifts include school supplies, toys, clothing, stuffed animals and hygiene items such as bar soap, washcloths and toothbrushes. Place new items for a boy or girl aged 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14 in a standard-size cardboard or plastic shoebox, and include a picture or note to the recipient if you like. Do not include liquids, perishables, glass, items that melt, war-related items or used items. Tape the label (available online) on your box, and add $9 (a suggested donation, made payable to Samaritan’s Purse) to help cover the shipping costs. Or, pay the shipping costs online at samaritanspurse.org, and receive a tag to track your box’s final destination.

Drop-off hours are Nov. 15, 4-7 pm; Nov. 16-18, 5-7 pm; Nov. 19, 4-6 pm; and Nov. 20-21, 12-2 pm. Learn more at samaritanspurse.org or by calling 920.559.2428.