Donations encouraged for Samaritan's Purse, Operation Christmas Child - Give shoeboxes filled with gifts for needy children overseas

FALLBROOK — Christmas is arriving early all over Fallbrook, as a local church prepares to serve as a collection point for Operation Christmas Child.

Soon, with the help of area volunteers, the sites will be brimming with festively wrapped shoeboxes full of gifts.

Through Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project, residents are packing shoebox gifts for children in more than 100 countries suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty.

From Fallbrook, the gifts will be sorted and sent using whatever means necessary – sea container, truck, train, airplane, boat, camel, even dogsled – to reach suffering children around the world.

It is asked that the shoeboxes be filled with school supplies, toys, necessity items, hard candy and a letter of encouragement.

“Through this project, anyone can be a part of giving love and hope in a shoebox,” said Lorrie Fennell, Operation Christmas Child drop-off site coordinator. “Those who help at the Tehachapi drop-off location find it fun to watch as filled shoeboxes stack up.”

Operation Christmas Child uses tracking technology that allows donors to “follow your box” to the destination country where it will be hand-delivered to a child in need.

To register shoebox gifts and find out what country they are delivered to, use the EZ Give donation form at http://www.samaritanspurse.org.

To donate shoebox gifts, bring them to Calvary Chapel in Fallbrook at 488 Industrial Way. Phone number is (800) 383-9578.

Gifts will be accepted during the following times:

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. November 16 and 18

• 12 to 4 p.m. November 17 and 19

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. November 20

• 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. November 21

• 12 to 2 p.m. November 22

• 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. November 23

For more information and step-by-step shoebox packing instructions, visit http://www.samaritanspurse.org.