Organizers for Operation Christmas Child have announced that prayer walks will be held at the two shoe box drop-off sites in Hays on Monday, Nov. 16.
Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization headquartered in Boone, N.C. Each year thousands of individuals pack shoe boxes with toys, school supplies and hygiene items that are sent to needy children around the world to demonstrate God’s love for them in a tangible way.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 178 million gift-filled shoe boxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories. For many children, this is the first gift they have ever received.
National Collection Week is Nov. 16-23. Rachel Albin of Hays, Northwest Kansas area director, said that because of the pandemic, shoe box collection would be handled a bit differently this year. Donors will be greeted at all curbside drop-offs by volunteers wearing personal protection equipment, she said.
In 2019, a total of 8,715 shoe boxes were collected in Northwest Kansas. The goal in 2020 is 9,500 shoe boxes, Albin said.
Hays has two collection sites. They are Messiah Lutheran Church, 2000 Main St. Collections times there are:
Monday, Nov. 16: 4 to 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 17, through Thursday, Nov. 19: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 20: 4 to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 21: 1 to 3 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 22: Noon to 2 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 23: 9 to 11 a.m.
The second collection site in Hays is CrossPoint Church, 1300 Harvest Road. Drop-off times there are:
Monday, Nov. 16: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 17: 3 to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 18: 4 to 6 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 19: 3 to 5 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 20: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 21: 4 to 6 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 22: 4 to 6 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 23: 9 to 11 a.m.
Prayer walks will be held at CrossPoint at 1:15 p.m. and at Messiah Lutheran at 2 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 16. “We are praying for God’s provision, protection, and blessing for all of the drop-of sites,” said Pam Schmidtberger, prayer mobilization coordinator for Northwest Kansas.
Those living outside the Hays area may find their nearest drop-off site by going to https://samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/drop-off-locations/ and entering their zip code.
Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/buildonline/ to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoe box by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.
More information is available from Albin at [email protected].