The Operation Christmas Child collection center at Simpson Creek Baptist Church has been open since Monday and to date has collected more than 4,500 filled shoeboxes. One trailer has been loaded to capacity and volunteers are working on filling the second.

 

Volunteer Frank Jarman said as of Saturday afternoon, collection numbers were higher than last year for this point in the collection process. 

 

At noon today, the other four area collection centers will be delivering their cases. Collection will remain open through early-Tuesday afternoon. Before all the boxes head to the distribution center, volunteers will pray over them. 

 

Church members and other volunteers will circle the trailers and pray over the boxes inside. As is proven over and over the filled boxes are not only a happy surprise to children who receive them, but also serve to lead those children and their families to Christ, organizers said. After deliveries are made to more than 100 countries, stories are relayed. Often, a box will contain an unusual item which winds up in the hands of a child who really needed or wanted it. 

 

Since September, volunteers have been filling hundreds of boxes at Simpson Creek Baptist Church. Filled with toys, dolls, games, hygiene and school supplies, scarves, socks and other accessories, those boxes were transferred from the church building to the Family Life Center parking lot and added to the masses. Boxes have been filled by residents, churches, clubs and school organizations. 

 

It’s all been quite an undertaking, said Debbie Mount of SCBC, but a labor of love that has become synonymous with the holiday season.

 

Filled boxes can still be dropped off at SCBC until 3 p.m. today or before 1 p.m. Monday.

 

Much appreciation is sent to all who have helped with this global project, sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse.