It’s finally the long-awaited week! Time to drop off your shoeboxes full of Christmas presents to those who live in other countries.
The national collection week begins on Monday, November 15 with the last day to drop off on Sunday, November 21. In Pontotoc, the drop-off locations are West Heights Baptist Church and Ecru Baptist Church. Their hours of operation are listed below.
The concept of wrapping a shoebox-sized piece of joy began in 1993, with a man’s desire to see children in countries at war have some comfort and joy, from their cheer up, if only for a moment, out of the unspeakable horrors of war and loneliness they faced every day.
From this vision was born a world ministry under the auspices of Samaritan’s Purse led by the son of the late Billy Graham, Franklin, whose primary purpose with the shoebox is to share the gospel with children as they receive the shoebox gifts. Each box contains a Gospel tract that the children can take home and read. The boxes are distributed to local churches in the field, so there is a follow-up after the box with a book called The Greatest Journey. Children who wish to return return for a 12-week Bible study and learn to train others.
If you’ve never been to Operation Christmas, here’s how you can get started. Get a shoebox from your closet or you can buy a thick plastic shoebox from the dollar store.
You choose the age group of the boy or girl you want to pack for, which includes 2-4 year olds; 5-9; and 10-14.
The boxes are packed with a variety of things. First of all, please pack school supplies and hygiene items. These are things we take for granted here in America, but desperately needed in places like Africa.
School supplies such as pens, pencils and sharpeners, pencils, markers, notebooks, paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.
Hygiene items such as toothbrushes, bar soap, combs, washcloths can be wrapped.
Toys that children will immediately embrace, such as dolls, toy cars, soft toys, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, skipping ropes, balls, shining stars, balloons and other toys simple that children appreciate.
For older children there are sewing kits, a hammer and nails, a soccer ball with pump and jewelry.
Other accessories such as t-shirts, socks, hats, sunglasses, hair clips, jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries) can also be included in the box .
PLEASE NOTE that no soldiers or war related objects, such as knives or firearms, are permitted and no candy or toothpaste is permitted.
Anyone packing a box is also encouraged to include a note with a photo. And then pray on your box. Ask God to send it to exactly who needs it. It’s amazing how these requests are specifically answered.
Once you pack the box, please request a label when you drop it off and mark it for the age group you packed, or you can write it on the top of the box with a permanent marker. Put a rubber band around your box to keep it closed. Please don’t save it as it will be opened, prayed and processed further in Atlanta.
Here are some of the locations and opening hours of the depot. For the drop-off area closest to you, go to samaritanspurse.org.
Ecru, MS – Ecru Baptist Church
550 Main Street, Ecru, MS 38841-9706
Mon Nov 15: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tue Nov 16: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday November 17th: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Thu, Nov 18: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Fri Nov 19: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sat Nov 20: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sun Nov 21: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Houston, MS – First Baptist Church
201 W Madison Street Houston, MS 38851-2223
Mon, Nov 15: 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Tue, Nov 16: 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Wed Nov 17: 7:30 am – 11:00 am
Thu, Nov 18: 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Fri, Nov 19: 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Sat Nov 20: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sun Nov 21: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
New Albany, MS – New Birth Community Church
614 Glade Street New Albany, MS 38652-0207
Mon Nov 15: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Mon Nov 15: 6.30 p.m. – 8.30 p.m.
Tue Nov 16: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Wed Nov 17: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Thu Nov 18: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Friday November 19: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Sat Nov 20: 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Sun Nov 21: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Pontotoc, MS – West Heights Baptist Church
328 W Oxford Street Pontotoc, MS 38863-1204
Mon Nov 15: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Tue Nov 16: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Wed Nov 17: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Thu Nov 18: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Fri November 19: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sat Nov 20: 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Sun Nov 21: 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Saltillo, MS – Faith Baptist Church
553, 681 Saltillo County Road, MS 38866-7915
Mon Nov 15: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Mon Nov 15: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Tue, Nov 16: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Tue, Nov 16: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Wed Nov 17: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Wed, Nov 17: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Thu Nov 18: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thu, Nov 18: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday November 19: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Fri Nov 19: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sat Nov 20: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sat, Nov 20: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tupelo, MS – Harrisburg Baptist Church – The Adventure Lodge
4675 Cliff Gookin Boulevard Tupelo, MS 38801-7037
Mon Nov 15: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Mon Nov 15: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tue Nov 16: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Tue Nov 16: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wed Nov 17: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Wed Nov 17: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Thu Nov 18: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thu, Nov 18: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Fri November 19: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Fri Nov 19: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sat Nov 20: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Sun Nov 21: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
