Right now several Bakersfield locations are open as collection sites for operation Chrsitmas Child—the world's largest Christmas project of its kind. The annual project is a favorite of many Bakersfield residents, families, churches and groups who help spread God's love to millions of children around the world by filling shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and notes of encouragement.
"Operation Christmas Child is a multigenerational project that anyone can understand and participate in. For the cost of a dinner out with the family you can pack a shoebox gift for a child," said Kern County Area Coordinator Judy McMillin
Through local collection points,Bakersfield residents hope to contribute more than 17,500 gift-filled shoeboxes to the 2014 global goal of reaching 10 million needy children. Since 1993, Samaritan's Purse has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 113 million children in over 150 countries through Operation Christmas Child. For many of these children, a gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.
Nov. 17-24LOCAL COLLECTION SITES:
Bakersfield, CA - Olive Drive Church
5500 Olive Drive
Mon: 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Tue: 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Wed: 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Thu: 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Fri: 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Sat: 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Sun: 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Mon: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Bakersfield, CA - Fellowship Baptist Church
3001 Stine Road
Mon: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Tue: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wed: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Thu: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Fri: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Sat: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sun: 12:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Mon: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Through simple shoebox gifts and a message of hope through Jesus Christ, children learn they are loved and not forgotten.
For more information about how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 714-432-7030 or visit samaritanspurse.org. National Collection Week for gift-filled shoeboxes is Nov. 17-24; however, shoebox gifts are collected all year at the Samaritan's Purse headquarters in Boone, North Carolina.
Participants can track their boxes online to the country where they will be delivered. To track a shoebox gift, use the online donation form at samaritanspurse.org. Click on "Pack a Shoebox" / "Follow-Your-Box Label."
