RAPID CITY, S.D. — Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts to children worldwide for more than two decades.
Shoebox gifts are prepared by donors and filled with toys, hygiene items and school supplies.
Boxes may be dropped off now during national collection week, November 16 – 23.
Participants can also donate by building a shoebox online.
The boxes are distributed to children anywhere in the world there is a need.
“Where our gifts are going, they are to children where they often don’t have a home to live in and that is why they are living in an orphanage,” said Nancy Morrison, a West River Operation Christmas Child Volunteer at Dove Christian Center said. “They maybe don’t have mom and dad anymore and some of them are you know, part of a missionary project where it’s so poor that they don’t have schools and those children are getting some of the most basic needs met through these shoeboxes.”
This is a project everyone can still be part of, even with COVID-19 restrictions. There’s still time for individuals, families and groups to transform empty shoeboxes into fun gifts. The project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children in need.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse.
“The reason we like to do this every year is because there is always more need, there is always more children than what we have shoeboxes to send off to people, and one thing that maybe some people aren’t aware of is Operation Christmas Child does not disclude North America, the boxes truly go anywhere in the world where they is a need,” Morrison said.
Click here to learn more about Operation Christmas Child.
Local drop off locations include:
Rapid City, SD – Dove Christian Center
1213 Harmony Heights Lane Rapid City, SD 57701-0319
Mon, Nov. 16: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Tue, Nov. 17: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Wed, Nov. 18: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Thu, Nov. 19: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 20: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 21: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 22: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Mon, Nov. 23: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Rapid City, SD – The Foundry
730 Quincy Street Rapid City, SD 57701-3632
Mon, Nov. 16: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Mon, Nov. 16: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Tue, Nov. 17: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Wed, Nov. 18: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Thu, Nov. 19: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 20: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 21: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 22: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Mon, Nov. 23: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sturgis, SD – Life Spring Wesleyan Church
1638 Junction Avenue Sturgis, SD 57785-2125
Mon, Nov. 16: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Tue, Nov. 17: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wed, Nov. 18: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thu, Nov. 19: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 20: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 21: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 22: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Mon, Nov. 23: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
738 N 5th Street Spearfish, SD 57783-2049
1846 8th Avenue Belle Fourche, SD 57717-2056
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