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LOCK HAVEN -- Lock Haven's very own House of the Lord Fellowship is once again taking part in Operation Christmas Child, beginning Monday, Nov. 14.
"We are excited to again be involved in our community with Operation Christmas Child project. We invite you to participate and help bring joy to children in need all over the world," said OCC Area Coordinator Sarah Snyder.
Operation Christmas Child, a project of the international relief organization Samaritan's Purse, collects in the U.S and worldwide shoebox gifts filled with school supplies, hygiene items, and fun toys -- and delivers them to children in need around the world. For many of these children, the gift filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.
Operation Christmas holds a National Collection Week the third week of every November. This year, on Nov. 14-21, nearly 4,500 drop-off locations in the US will be open to receive shoebox gifts.
In 2021, Operation Christmas Child, the world's largest Christmas Child project of its kind, collected more than 10.5 million shoebox gifts for children in over 100 countries. Since 1993, more than 198 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. The project delivers not only the joy of what, for many kids, is their first gift ever, but also gives them a tangible expression of God's love. OCC along with the help of thousands volunteers and Samaritan's Purse -- send all these wonderful shoebox gifts across the world to children in need and affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine and disease; and children living on Native American reservations and natural disaster impacted areas.
The House of the Lord Fellowship church in Lock Haven is an official OCC drop-off site for shoebox gifts and has partnered with Operation Christmas Child and Samaritan's Purse for more than 15 years.
In 2021 HOTLF's Drop-off Site collected 2,347 shoeboxes. This region includes State College area as well.
HOW CAN PEOPLE DONATE A SHOEBOX GIFT?
Every shoebox gift is designed to be unique.
1) Find a Shoebox -- You can do this by starting with any average-sized cardboard shoebox or plastic shoebox. Can giftwrap or even decorate your shoebox, just please remember not to giftwrap the lid closed. Rubber bands are fine.
2) Boy or Girl -- Decide whether you will pack a box for a girl or a boy, and an age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14.
3) Fill Box with items -- Select a medium to large "wow" item such as a soccer ball with pump or stuffed animal, then fill with other new items like fun toys, hygiene items, school supplies. Due to certain shipping restrictions, please no toothpaste or candy.
4) Pray -- Most importantly, please pray for the child who will receive your gift. You can also include a personal note and photo as some contact info.
5) Follow Your Box Labels -- To help defer shipping costs, you can donate $10 by placing cash or check in top of your shoebox. Or donate $10 online and receive a printable label to Follow Your Box and discover the destination of your shoebox gift. Just print and attach this tracking label to the outside lid of your shoebox. The same tracking barcode label can be used for multiple shoebox gifts (try not to place tape over tracking barcode). We also have pre-printed barcodes you can activate and attached with our purchased cardboard and plastic OCC shoeboxes (on the website and stores like at Hobby Lobby).
Online Shoebox -- If unable to donate a shoebox in-person, you can also use online option of Build a Box Online on their website.
To learn more about OCC and volunteering, visit website samaritanspurse.org/occ
Local OCC hours are as follows:
House of the Lord Fellowship Church
201 W. Main St., Lock Haven, PA 17745-0235
The church will use its 2nd Street entrance for easier Curbside-drop-offs instead of parking lot. Signs will be visible to easily direct people for drop-offs.
Mon, Nov. 14: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m.
Tue, Nov. 15: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Wed, Nov. 16: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m.
Thu, Nov. 17: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Fri, Nov. 18: 3:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 19: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Sun, Nov. 20: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Mon, Nov. 21: 8 a.m.-11 a.m.
Trinity Reformed Church
355 Hublersburg Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823-6549
Mon, Nov. 14: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Tue, Nov. 15: 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
Wed, Nov. 16: 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
Thu, Nov. 17: 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
Fri, Nov. 18: 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 19: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sun, Nov. 20: 12 p.m.-2 p.m.
Mon, Nov. 21: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.