As of 10 a.m. Monday, the shoeboxes were rolling into Operation Christmas Child headquarters at Simpson Creek Baptist Church’s family life center.

 

For the second year, the church is serving as the regional hub for the Samaritan’s Purse Christmastime project which provides boxes filled with toys, novelties, school supplies and personal care items to millions of children around the world.

 

In 2016, 13,000 filled boxes were collected at SCBC.

“That includes three counties – Harrison, Taylor and Lewis,” said Audra Sczerba, collection center volunteer. “There are five drop-off centers altogether, so they bring their cartons filled with boxes.”

 

It’s important to keep count of the boxes which come through the doors and to pack as many filled boxes into the tractor trailers.

 

“(Samaritan’s Purse) pays for that space so we want to make sure they are packed as tightly as they can be,” said Lynn Tarlen, volunteer stationed at the SCBC collection site.

 

The shoeboxes are sent on to the processing center in Charlotte, NC just as they arrive from area schools, churches, organizations and households. Sometimes, a box may contain an unusual item, but as is documented through OCC, that item usually winds up in the hands of someone who needs or really wants it.

 

“We’ve ready story after story where God has taken a specific box and used it,” Tarlen said. “People pray over their boxes and it’s important that those boxes maintain their integrity.”

 

Once at the processing center, boxes will be checked and items which are not permitted – such as liquids, glass, breakables and chocolate – will be removed and replaced with donated items, she said.

 

When opening their doors Monday morning, there 100-plus boxes inside the community center, those filled by church members as well as the Bridgeport High School French Club.

 

By next Friday, several thousands will have passed through the hands of dozens of church and community volunteers which keep the drop-off center operating efficiently.

 

The end result is remarkable, Tarlen said. But the stories heard during the process are equally inspiring.

 

“There is one gentleman who doesn’t even live in West Virginia, but he is from here and every year he buys enough stuff to fill hundreds of boxes and students at a local school fill them,” she said.

 

Last year, that gentleman and his helpers provided 800 filled boxes.

 

The community rallies around the project too, Sczerba said, showing up with food and support.

 

Those who didn’t yet get an opportunity to fill a shoe box still can do so. Directions and information can be found HERE or can be picked up at Simpson Creek Baptist Church family life center, located directly across Philadelphia Avenue from Simpson Creek Baptist Church. Specially-made, decorated boxes can be picked up, too, or individuals are welcome to use standard shoe boxes or purchase plastic ones with lids.

 

In addition to toys and other suggested items, it is suggested to include a photo and/or handwritten note to the child who will receive the box. Many churches who have collected filled boxes have prayed over them before they are shipped.

 

The distribution center will be open 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. Saturday. Operations will wrap up Nov. 20 and 21 as the center will be open 10 a.m to 6 p.m. both days.