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OperationChristmasChild750
Trish offers more ways to send shoebox gifts

As Samaritans Purse celebrates a record year for creating shoeboxes for children online, Trish Ellse from Alive Church in Wymondham encourages churches to get involved.

Trish, who is Regional Manager for Operation Christmas Child in the East of England, is especially highlighting Shoebox Online, an option some which some churches like Norwich Central Baptist have chosen to go for this year.

“We hear so many wonderful stories of Operation Christmas Child Shoebox gifts changing lives,” said Trish. “It is not just the children and their families who receive the gifts, but also those for whom packing and giving a shoebox means so much. It brings such joy to them as they think of the child receiving the shoebox gift.” 

The first lorry-load of Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes packed online has already been assembled by the Samaritans Purse team and despatched for Belarus to reach children in need in time for Christmas.

Samaritans Purse sees each gift-filled shoebox as a message of hope and a great way to share the love of God around the world, especially during the Covid-19 crisis. It hopes to send the next cargo of Shoebox Online boxes to Nigeria and Liberia. 

New webpages allow people to track the progress of their church, group or event. You can create a goal page through Shoebox Online, then upload an image or logo, write an encouraging message, and decide how many shoeboxes you want your team to pack.  

It is also still possible to pack and bring your shoebox gift to one of the Operation Christmas Child drop off locations.  

“I am so grateful to local businesses and churches who signed up to be drop-off points during our National Collection Week,” said Trish. 

Current drop off locations around Norfolk include: Oak Grove Community Church Charity Shop (Norwich), Brundall Coffee Shop, The Hempnell Group of Churches, Diss Methodist Church, St Marks Church (Oulton Broad), Rosedale Funeral Home (Wymondham), Andrew Francis Funeral Services (Swaffham), The Old School (Wretton) and Thornally Funeral Services (Kings Lynn). 

Opening times can be found on the Operation Christmas Child website. National Collection Week has moved in England to December 5-14, to coincide with the ending of the latest restrictions. 

Image of children receiving shoeboxes supplied by Samaritans Purse
 

Eldred Willey, 27/11/2020

Eldred Willey
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