By KayCee Wilhelm, student news writer, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville University will serve as Taylor County's collection site for Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child during National Collection Week, Nov. 13-20. Drop-offs should be made at 307 N Court Street, Campbellsville, Ky.
This year's Operation Christmas Child's National Collection Week at Taylor County Collection Center is being dedicated to Alicia Irwin, who died July 18, 2017.
“She had a passion for OCC and loved sharing stories of how the children's lives were changed through a shoebox gift. Katie Snyder, Irwin's daughter, said, “She left a legacy, a great example and a passion for OCC in our family. She volunteered each night of collection week.”
Snyder said, “As you pray and begin collecting boxes, have faith and know the Lord will provide just what is needed for each box that will be received by a special child. In honor of our Lord and our sweet mama, we ask you prayerfully consider collecting boxes this November in sharing the gospel with children of all ages around the world.”
Drop off times are as follows: Monday-Thursday, Nov. 13-16, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 17 and Saturday, Nov. 18, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 19, 1 p.m-3 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 20, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.
Operation Christmas Child is a project created by Samaritan's Purse that collects shoeboxes filled with toys and goodies to send to children in need around the world to countries like Peru, the Philippines, Rwanda and Ukraine.
Since its start in 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 146 million shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries.
CU's involvement with OCC began in 2005 with the freshman FIRST CLASS students, and it has continued to grow ever since.
Nearly 11.5 million shoebox gifts were collected worldwide in 2016, with more than 9.1 million of those collected in the United States.
Campbellsville University's Collection Center during National Collection Week in 2016 collected a total of 6,626 boxes, with the university providing 790 of those boxes.
The annual Samaritan's Purse project helps to spread joy to millions of children around the world by filling shoeboxes with a “Wow!” item—like a doll or soccer ball—other fun toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement.
For information about what is acceptable to pack and what isn't, visitsamaritanspurse.org/occ.