The global project involves filling empty shoe boxes with things like toys, school supplies, hygeine items, and a letter of encouragement for needy children in 100 countries.
The goal in Fresno is to fill more than 22,000 shoe boxes.
"Finding a shoebox stuffing it with all kinds of items -- particularly items that children all over the world in war-torn countries or impoverished countries -- things they can use. Things they can enjoy," said Jerry Cooksey, Collection Center Coordinator for Operation Christmas Child.
Local collection sites:
Calvary Chapel
3425 E Shields Avenue
Fresno, CA, 93726
Operating Hours:
Mon: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tues: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Wed: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Thurs: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Fri: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sat: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sun: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Mon: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
785 N Fowler Avenue
Clovis, CA, 93611
Operating Hours:
Mon: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Tues: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Wed: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Thurs: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Fri: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Sat: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Sun: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Mon: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Sierra Relay Center
14087 Oakview Drive
Prather, CA, 93651
Operating Hours:
Mon: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tues: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Wed: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thurs: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Fri: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sat: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sun: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Mon: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan's Purse, uses whatever means necessary to reach suffering children around the world with these gifts of hope, including sea containers, trucks, trains, airplanes, boats, camels and dog sleds. Tracking technology also allows donors to "follow" their box to the destination country where it will be hand-delivered to a child in need. To register shoe box gifts and find out the destination country, use the Follow Your Box donation form found at www.samaritanspurse.org/occ
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO GET INVOLVED:
PREPARE-Enlist families, churches, scout troops, community groups and businesses to take part in creating shoe box gifts for needy children worldwide.
PACK-Fill shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items Step-by-step shoe box packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org/occ
VOLUNTEER-Sign up to join Operation Christmas Child volunteers in Fresno as part of the effort to prepare millions of shoe box gifts for delivery to underprivileged kids on six continents.
