Volunteers needed for 2012 Operation Christmas Child

Showing a needy child that they are loved and not forgotten can start with something as simple as a shoe box.

Right now, Operation Christmas Child is looking for generous volunteers in Highland, Clinton, Fayette, and Brown counties to help fill those shoe boxes with small gifts – as part of a massive effort to help bring joy to more than 9 million children in more than 100 countries on six continents.

Operation Christmas Child needs volunteers to pack shoe boxes with toys, necessity items, school supplies, candy and hand-written notes of encouragement. The shoe box gifts will be hand-delivered to children who are suffering because of natural disaster, disease, war, terrorism, famine and poverty. For many of these kids, this simple shoe box will be the first gift they have ever received.

WHY NOW – MONTHS BEFORE THE HOLIDAY SEASON?

Although National Collection Week for shoe box gifts is November 12-19, 2012, Operation Christmas Child is not limited to just the holidays. It is a year-round project, requiring months of organization and preparation to reach millions of kids around the world.

Volunteers and shoe box gifts are needed during all seasons to help spread the joy of Christmas and the spirit of giving that lasts all year long.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, has hand-delivered more than 85 million gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children in some 130 countries.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

* PACK A SHOE BOX GIFT – Fill shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items, candy and a letter of encouragement. Step-by-step shoe box packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org.

* HOST A PACKING PARTY – Lead a group from church, school, a civic organization or the neighborhood in packing shoe boxes. It is a great opportunity for outreach and fellowship.

* COLLECTION SITES – Operation Christmas Child will be collecting gift-filled shoe boxes at more than 3,400 drop-off sites nationwide.

Collection sites need volunteers. For more information for the collection sites in Hillsboro and Greenfield, contact Ed and Helen Hiestand at 937-393-2790 or Ira Savage at 937- 981-4854.

For more information for the collection sites in Wilmington and Blanchester, contact Ed and Helen Hiestand at 937-393-2790 or Debbie Hatten at 937-382-5449 or Jennifer Kipheart at 937-505-2059

For more information for the collection sites in Sardinia and Peebles, contact Ed and Helen Hiestand at 937-393-2790 or Vicky Dorsey at 937-446-3344 or Melissa Whitley-Huff at 937-587-2561.

For more information for the collection site in Washington Court House, contact Ed and Helen Hiestand at 937-393-2790 or Nancy McClish at 740-572-1627

* SPREAD THE WORD – Help enlist families, churches, scout troops, community groups and businesses to take part in creating shoe box gifts.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 937-393-2790 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org.