Collection sites announced for Operation Christmas Child

(Courtesy of Maggi Horst)

In Highland County, local sites are being transformed into drop-off centers for Operation Christmas Child—the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind.

At the local collection sites in Hillsboro and Greenfield, local volunteers are on hand to receive gift-filled shoeboxes, packed by caring residents with toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement. The goal for the South Central Ohio Area, comprised of Adams, Brown, Clinton, Fayette and Highland Counties is 9,800 shoe box gifts.

Bursting with colorful wrapping paper and energetic volunteers, these collection sites will be open during Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week, Nov. 18–25. 

Ed and Helen Hiestand, Area Coordinators for the South Central Ohio Area, can be reached for interviews and further information about local gift collections at 937-393-2790.

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With holiday supplies already covering the store shelves, Highland County individuals, families, churches and groups are working to make Christmas a reality for needy kids around the world by filling shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement.

Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, is ramping up as County residents prepare to collect gift-filled shoeboxes during National Collection Week (Nov. 18-25).

At local collection sites in Hillsboro and Greenfield, anyone can drop off a gift-filled shoebox to send to a child overseas. Then using whatever means necessary – trucks, trains, boats, bikes and even elephants – the shoebox gifts will be delivered to children worldwide. For many children, the shoebox gift will be the first gift they have ever received.

Highland County collection sites

First United Methodist Church,
133 E Walnut St., Hillsboro.

Operating Hours:

Monday, Nov 18 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday, Nov 19 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday, Nov 20 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday, Nov 21 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday, Nov 22 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday, Nov 23 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday, Nov 24 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm
Monday, Nov 25 10:00 am – 12:00 noon

First Baptist Church,
250 Lafayette St., Greenfield

Operating Hours:
Monday, Nov 18 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Tuesday, Nov 19 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Wednesday, Nov 20 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Thursday, Nov 21 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Friday, Nov 22 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Saturday, Nov 23 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Sunday, Nov 24 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Monday, Nov 25 10:00 am – 12:00 noon

For more information regarding these collection locations, call 1-800-567-8580.

Though the shoebox gifts will often travel thousands of miles, Operation Christmas Child offers a way for participants to follow their box by using the donation form found at samaritanspurse.org. Donors will receive an email telling the country where their shoeboxes are delivered.

Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 100 million shoebox gifts to suffering children in more than 100 countries since 1993. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect another 9.8 million gift-filled shoeboxes in 2013. Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 937-393-2790 or visit samaritanspurse.org. National Collection Week for gift-filled shoeboxes is Nov. 18-25; however, shoebox gifts are collected all year at the Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in Boone, N.C. Participants can also build a box through an online tool offering a personalized and convenient way to send a gift to a child in one of the hardest-to-reach countries.