From STAFF REPORTS

Americus opens drop-off location for global children’s Christmas charity Americus, Ga., October 19, 2016— First Baptist Church in Americus will serve as a drop-off location for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child—the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind.
During National Collection Week, Nov. 14 – 21, Sumter County residents will donate shoeboxes—filled with school supplies, hygiene items, notes of encouragement and fun toys, such as a doll or soccer ball—for Operation Christmas Child to deliver to children in need around the world. This year, Middle Georgia residents hope to contribute more than 25,000 shoebox gifts toward the 2016 global goal of reaching 12 million children.
“The shoebox gifts donated by residents will serve as tangible expressions of God’s love to children living in poverty overseas,” said Americus volunteer Denise Burgess, who has participated in Operation Christmas Child for several years.
First Baptist Church
221 S Lee Street
Americus, GA 31709
OPERATING HOURS:
Monday, Nov. 14, [10 a.m. – 12 p.m.]
Tuesday, Nov. 15, [10 a.m. – 12 p.m.]
Wednesday, Nov. 16, [10 a.m. – 12 p.m.]
Thursday, Nov. 17, [10 a.m. – 12 p.m., 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.]
Friday, Nov. 18, [10 a.m. – 12 p.m., 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.]
Saturday, Nov. 19, [10 a.m. – 12 p.m.]
Sunday, Nov. 20, [12 p.m. – 3 p.m.]
Monday, Nov. 21, [7 a.m. – 9 a.m.]
For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 478-250-1158 or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. By going online to give the suggested donation of $7 per shoebox gift, participants can follow their box to discover where in the world it will be delivered. They can also pack a shoebox gift online and even upload a photo and note of encouragement.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 135 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 150 countries and territories. For many of these children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.