OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD is a project of Samaritans Purse, an international Christian relief organization that collects gift-filled shoe boxes and delivers them through local churches in the name of Jesus Christ to children living in desperate situations around the world. The request for the boxes is made through media releases and within local churches annually. Each year over 7 million children find joy and the Good News of Jesus Christ as they open shoe boxes full of age appropriate toys and gifts.

First UMC has been a relay center for OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD for eight years, collecting boxes for this region (several counties) and seeing that these are then transported on to processing centers for overseas shipment. October and early November are busy times as we move more than 800 shoe boxes through our church.

FUMC contact: Sande Presar, 472-6012
Other contact: Samaritans Purse, www.samaritanspurse.org