Operation Christmas Child National Collection Week Is November 17–24

The National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child is set for Nov. 17–24, and area churches are once again serving as official drop-off sites for gift-filled shoeboxes. The drop-off location for the Yalobusha County area is Water Valley First Baptist Church, located at 800 North Main Street.

Drop-off times are:
• Mon.–Fri., Nov. 17–21: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Sat., Nov. 22: 9 a.m.–noon.
• Sun., Nov. 23: 1–3 p.m.
• Mon., Nov. 24: 7:30–9:30 a.m.

Participants can find locations and times for other areas by visiting www.samaritanspurse.org. Click on Operation Christmas Child and select Drop-Off Locations for more details.

Last year a total of 3,623 Christmas shoeboxes were collected at the Water Valley drop-off, a record number. The boxes were collected from 29 churches in the area as well as individuals.

Each shoebox is filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items, along with personal notes and photos. The gifts are distributed around the world by Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian relief organization. The boxes often serve as tangible reminders of God’s love for children who may never have received a Christmas gift before.