Operation Christmas Child under way

By Tom Smith
Senior Staff Writer

Published: Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, November 6, 2009 at 9:42 p.m.

Jared Swinney said participating in Operation Christmas Child is a wonderful way to reach children who are less fortunate.

Want to help?

Drop-off locations for Operation Christmas Child:

First United Methodist Church, 415 N. Seminary St., Florence; 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Last day for drop-offs is Nov. 19.

Living Faith Bookstore, Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals; 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Last day for drop-offs is Nov. 20.

LifeWay Christian Bookstore, Cox Creek Parkway, Florence; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Last day for drop-offs is Nov. 20.

Teamster Local 402, 2208 Second St., Muscle Shoals; Nov. 16-20.

Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center, Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday and until noon Nov. 22.

"It's such a great ministry. I'm glad to be involved with it," said Swinney, manager of LifeWay Christian Bookstore in Florence, which is one of the drop-off points for the campaign.

Operation Christmas Child encourages individuals to pack shoeboxes with gifts for a boy or girl between ages 2 and 14. The boxes are then given to children in need around the world.

The program, which is headed by Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, has handed out more than 58 million shoebox gifts since it began in 1993.

"Last year, there were more than 8 million children in 95 counties that received the shoeboxes," said Jerry

Lewis, local coordinator for the program.

In 2008, north Alabama delivered 29,267 boxes.

"In the Southeast region, which Alabama is a part of, there were 535,000 boxes collected," Lewis said. "That just shows that even in a down economic time, people are still opening their hearts and giving to those less fortunate."

The official collection dates for Operation Christmas Child are Nov. 16-22, but Lewis said some people are already dropping off their boxes.

"We've got several here at the Easter Seals office and other locations are getting them also," he said. "Most of the boxes will start coming in within the next week or so."

Swinney said Lifeway collected between 700 and 750 boxes in 2008.

"We don't have any yet, but I expect the boxes to start coming in soon. I hope we get as many this year as last year," Swinney said.

Lewis said the last day boxes will be accepted is Nov. 22.

"But not all of the drop-off locations will take them that day, so we're encouraging people to get the boxes in as soon as possible," he said.

Gift suggestions include small toys such as cars, balls, stuffed animals or dolls; hygiene items, such as a toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap or a comb; school supplies; hard candy or gum; a flashlight with batteries; socks and T-shirts; a watch; boots; and a letter of encouragement.

For details, go to Operation Christmas Child online at samaritanspurse.org.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.