Marble Falls First Baptist Church collection site for Operation Christmas Child
Bailey Freeman, daughter of Rusty and Lane Freeman and a first-grader at First Baptist Christian School, holds a box of toys and gifts she and the other children at FBCS packed for Operation Christmas Child, the largest shoebox gift ministry of its kind in the world.
Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, which was founded by Franklin Graham, the Rev. Billy Graham’s son.
MARBLE FALLS — Volunteers are collecting simple shoebox gifts personally packed by children, families and others in the local version of Operation Christmas Child at First Baptist Church of Marble Falls.
The drive is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization headed up by Franklin Graham, the son of the Rev. Billy Graham. Since 1993, the organization has delivered more than 61 million gift-filled shoeboxes to needy children in nearly 130 countries.
“Operation Christmas Child is a wonderful opportunity to bring a smile to a child’s face,” said Karrie Byrd, Operation Christmas Child relay center coordinator for the church. “By filling a shoebox, you are encouraging their education and hygiene. You are also sharing the Gospel message that Christ cares for them—all this without ever even leaving Marble Falls.”
Byrd said their target is 1,600 boxes.
From Marble Falls, the shoebox gifts will be sorted and sent using sea containers, trucks, buses, trains, airplanes, helicopters, boats, camels and even dog sleds to reach suffering children around the world.
Sponsors said it’s not too late to get involved and join the effort to help the world’s largest Christmas project hand-deliver some 8 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 100 countries suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty.
Anyone wishing to participate can prepare by enlisting families, churches, Scout troops, community groups and businesses to take part in creating shoebox gifts for needy children worldwide, organizers said.
Volunteers are asked to fill the shoeboxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items, candy and a letter of encouragement — step-by-step shoebox packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org.
Filled shoeboxes can be brought to First Baptist Church, 501 twelfth Street during national collection week, Monday–Nov. 24. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday by appointment only and Sunday, 12–3 p.m. On Nov. 24, the site is open 9–10 a.m., after which the boxes will be taken to Austin for shipping.
For more information on how to participate, call Byrd at (830) 613-9655 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org.
Courtesy photo