World's Largest Christmas Project Opens Collection Site Nov. 17-24 in North Druid Hills with Overall Goal of 80,000 Shoeboxes

NORTH DRUID HILLS, GA, November 10, 2014—This month, one location in the North Druid Hills - Briarcliff area will serve as a collection site for Operation Christmas Child—the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind. The annual project is a favorite of many local residents, families, churches and groups who help spread God’s love to millions of children around the world by filling shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and notes of encouragement.

“Operation Christmas Child is a fun project that makes a tangible difference in the life of a child facing difficult circumstances. Anyone can participate, whether young or old,” said local volunteer Morgan Schroeder.

Through local collection points, local residents hope to contribute to the metro Atlanta and Atlanta goal of more than 80,000 gift-filled shoeboxes to the 2014 global goal of reaching 10 million needy children. Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 113 million children in over 150 countries through Operation Christmas Child. For many of these children, a gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.

NORTH DRUID HILLS COLLECTION SITE:

Briarlake Baptist Church

3715 Lavista Road

Decatur, GA 30033

(404) 325-4214

Mon – Nov 17: 6 - 9 p.m.

Tues – Nov 18: 6 - 9 p.m.

Wed – Nov 19: 6 - 9 p.m.

Thurs – Nov 20: 6 - 9 p.m.

Fri – Nov 21: 10 a.m - 12 p.m.

Sat – Nov 22: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Sun – Nov 23: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Mon – Nov 24: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Through simple shoebox gifts and a message of hope through Jesus Christ, children learn they are loved and not forgotten.

For more information about how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, visit samaritanspurse.org. National Collection Week for gift-filled shoeboxes is Nov. 17-24; however, shoebox gifts are collected all year at the Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in Boone, North Carolina.

Participants can track their boxes online to the country where they will be delivered. To track a shoebox gift, use the online donation form at samaritanspurse.org. Click on “Pack a Shoebox” / “Follow-Your-Box Label.”