Two local churches are teaming up to launch Operation Christmas Child.
Here's how it works. You take a shoe box and fill it with anything from toys to school supplies and drop it off at Sparks Christian Fellowship or South Reno United Methodist Church. They send it to a child overseas who is in need.
"We have grown men with their children come and get a box and then they come back because they went and collected all the stuff at a store and they have too much and they come back and say could I have another box. Grown men come that are doing this mission on their own," said Mark Saxon of Sparks Christian Fellowship.
Saxon said the shoe boxes are sent to more than 100 countries worldwide.
Operation Christmas Child was started years ago by Billy Graham's son, Franklin Graham.
This year, they will reach a milestone, the 100-millionth box will be delivered by Christmas.
In Northern Nevada, Saxon said we ship about 7-8,000 boxes every year.
Saxon said the people who participate are just as excited as those who get the donations.
"Little kids come and tell us about what's in the box, how high the ball bounces. Little girls tell us the name of their little dolls for the child in the foreign country."
If you would like to donate to Operation Christmas Child, it runs through Monday.
RENO COLLECTION SITE:
South Reno United Methodist Church
200 De Spain Lane
Reno, NV 89511
(800) 353-5949
Operating Hours:
Monday - Friday 4-7 pm Saturday and Sunday 10 am-5 pm
NEARBY SPARKS COLLECTION SITE:
Sparks Christian Fellowship
510 Greenbrae Drive
Sparks, NV 89431
(800) 353-5949
Operating Hours:
Mon - Nov 12: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tues - Nov 13: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Wed - Nov 14: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thur - Nov 15: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Fri - Nov 16: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sat - Nov 17: 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Sun - Nov 18: 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Mon - Nov 19: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Complete collection week information is below. For additional information about Operation Christmas Child visit DeMossNews.com/OCC.
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/occ
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OCCshoeboxes
Twitter: @OCC_shoeboxes
