Four churches in south county will serve as drop-off locations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child, joining nearly 5,000 U.S. locations to collect gift-filled shoeboxes for children in need around the world.
During the project’s National Collection Week, Nov. 13 to Nov. 20, area residents will transform empty shoeboxes into gifts of hope filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items. After being dropped off, Operation Christmas Child will deliver these shoebox gifts to children living in poverty overseas.
This year, residents hope to contribute more than 26,500 shoebox gifts toward the 2017 global goal of reaching 12 million children.
“We have an opportunity in the St. Louis County area to give these simple shoebox gifts that will make a lasting impact on children across the world,” stated Southwest Area Coordinator volunteer Lynne Moll, who has participated in Operation Christmas Child for over nine years. “For many of these children, this shoebox is the first gift they have ever received. It sends a message that God loves them, and they are not forgotten.”
Collection sites include:

South County Baptist Church, 12995 Tesson Ferry Road. Operating hours are:
• From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13.
• From noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14.
• From 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15.
• From 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Nov. 16, Friday, Nov. 17, and Saturday, Nov. 18.
• From 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19.
• From 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 20.

Southgate Church, 9820 E. Watson Road. Operating hours are:
• From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13.
• From 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Nov. 14, through Saturday, Nov. 18.
• From noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19.
• From 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 20.

Grace Union Church, 3900 Union Road. Operating hours are:
• From 3 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, through Friday, Nov. 17.
• From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, and Sunday, Nov. 19.
• From 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Nov. 20.

Faith Lutheran Church, 6101 Telegraph Road. Operating hours are:
• From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13,
• From 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14.
• From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15.
• From 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Nov. 16.
• From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17.
• From 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 18.
• From 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19.
• From 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 20.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child or to view gift suggestions, call Moll at (636) 584-0247 or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants can donate $9 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination.
Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.