Operation Christmas Child prepares for National Collection Week Nov. 17–24

Volunteers across the country are gearing up to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, November 17–24. More than 4,700 drop-off locations will be open nationwide, and participants can find their nearest site using the online lookup tool searchable by city or ZIP code.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, has collected and delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to children around the world — including many affected by war, poverty, disease and disaster. The organization hopes to reach another 12 million children in 2025.

Packing a shoebox is a fun activity for individuals, families and groups. A step-by-step guide is available on the “How to Pack a Shoebox” webpage. Participants may also donate $10 per shoebox online through “Follow Your Box” to receive a tracking label and discover where their gift is delivered.

Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 220 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 170 countries and territories since its founding.

For local information, contact Brian and Alicia Zaugg, Ohio East Area Coordinators, at 330-231-7672. To learn more about packing a shoebox, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.

OHIO EAST AREA DROP-OFF LOCATIONS

BERLIN United Dayspring Church, 5641 Township Road 362, Berlin, Heidi Miller 330-204-9562, Monday 4-8 p.m., Tuesday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday 4-8 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday 4-8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to noon, Sunday noon to 3:30 p.m., Monday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

BOLIVAR Faith Baptist Church, 9481 state Route 212 NE, Bolivar, Luci Boyd 330-204-6941, Monday 5-8 p.m., Tuesday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday 5-8 p.m., Thursday 5-8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., Monday 9-11 a.m.

CADIZ Scott Memorial United Methodist Church, 817 E. Market St., Cadiz, Cynthia Harrah 740-491-0619, Monday 4-6 p.m., Tuesday 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday 4-6 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to noon, Friday 4-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to noon, Sunday 1-3 p.m., Monday 9-11 a.m.

CARROLLTON Mount Pleasant Methodist Church, 89 Canyon Road SW, Carrollton, Belinda Mach 330-627-2219, Monday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday 6-8 p.m., Wednesday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday 6-8 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday noon to 3 p.m., Monday 8-10 a.m.

COSHOCTON Roscoe United Methodist Church, 475 High St., Coshocton, Mike and Malinda Baker 740-502-0227, Monday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday 6-8 p.m., Wednesday 1-4 p.m., Thursday 4-6 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to noon, Sunday noon to 2 p.m., Monday 10 a.m. to noon.

DOVER Riverside Community Church, 2201 Progress St., Dover, David and Danya Sergent 330-447-5876, Monday 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday 4-8 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday 4-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday 9 a.m. to noon, Sunday 12:30 to 4 p.m., Monday 9-11 a.m.

MILLERSBURG Gateway Fellowship, 1287 Massillon Road, Millersburg, Rick and Ann Bush 330-473-8988, Monday 5-7 p.m., Tuesday 9-11 a.m., Wednesday 5-7 p.m., Thursday 9-11 a.m., Friday 5 to 7:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to noon, Sunday noon to 3 p.m., Monday 9-11 a.m.

MOOREFIELD His Word Ministries, 34915 Moore Road, Flushing, Karen York 740-771-0072, Monday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday 1-4 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday 2-6 p.m., Saturday 1-4 p.m., Sunday 1-3 p.m., Monday 8-11 a.m.

NEWCOMERSTOWN First Baptist Church, 135 S. River St., Newcomerstown, Nancy Huffman 740-545-7114, Monday 9-11 a.m., Tuesday 9-11 a.m., Wednesday 2-4 p.m., Thursday 9-11 a.m., Friday 9-11 a.m., Saturday 9-11 a.m., Sunday 2-4 p.m., Monday 9-11 a.m.

NEW PHILADELPHIA New Philadelphia Nazarene, 233 Fair Ave. NE, New Philadelphia, Rick Bloom 330-343-7144, Monday 5-7 p.m., Tuesday 5-7 p.m., Wednesday 5-7 p.m., Thursday 5-7 p.m., Friday 5-7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to noon, Sunday 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Monday 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

SUGARCREEK Oasis Tabernacle, 31 Dover Road NE, Sugarcreek, Janet Eicher 330-231-1151, Monday 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday 4-7 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday 4-7 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday 9 a.m. to noon, Sunday 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Monday 9-11 a.m.

UHRICHSVILLE Uhrichsville Christian Fellowship, 132 Kutcham Drive, Uhrichsville, Cindy Smith 330-340-7121, Monday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday 4-7 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday 4-7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday noon to 3 p.m., Monday 8-10 a.m.

WILMOT Berean Community Church, 1504 US Route 62, Wilmot, Faith Beachy 330-204-5311, Monday noon to 2 p.m., Tuesday 6-8 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday 10 a.m. to noon, Friday noon to 2 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to noon, Sunday 3-5 p.m., Monday 10 a.m. to noon.

NEED SHOEBOXES?

Churches may purchase shoeboxes by calling Esther Troyer at 330-204-1502. Families or individuals may pick up shoeboxes at the following locations:

Baltic: Baltic Meats

Becks Mill: General Store

Berlin: Gospel Bookstore

Bolivar: Wendys

Charm: Charm Pizza

Coshocton: Coshocton Library, Jillian’s Salon, Coshocton Coffee Connection, Z-Nails, Sensational Styles, Friends of the Library Bookstore

Dover: Dover Public Library, Yoders Hometown Market, Mission Café, Wendys

Farmerstown: Farmerstown General Store, Farmerstown Shoe and Gift

Mount Eaton: Red Tomato Market

New Bedford: Country Store

New Philadelphia: Daily Grind, Millers Creamery, Wendys, Tuscarawas County Library

Newcomerstown: Reisbeck Grocery Store, Wendys

Sugarcreek: Reisbeck Grocery Store, Sunrise Market and Café

For more information, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.