SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL

The Luverne United Methodist Church will be a collection center for the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child is a worldwide children’s project of Samaritan’s Purse that uses gift filled shoeboxes to reach children around the world.

In 2011, Operation Christmas Child will reach more than 8.5 million children.

Samaritan’s Purse and its national partners will hand deliver each of the 8.5 million shoe box gifts to children in more than 100 countries on six continents.

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

Previously, all shoe boxes had to be delivered to the collection center at St. James Methodist Church. The local collection center will make it easier for local organizations to participate.

If your organization is participating in Operation Christmas Child, you may bring your shoe boxes to the Luverne United Methodist Church Dei Center during the week of Nov. 14-21.

The collection days and time during that week are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Tuesday and Thursday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

All shoe boxes delivered to the church will be packed in cardboard boxes provided by Samaritan’s Purse and delivered to the Montgomery Distribution Center.

The Luverne United Methodist Church has participated in Operation Christmas Child for the last 15 years.

If you have any questions, you may visit the Samaritan’s Purse website at www.samaritanspurse.org or contact the Methodist Church at 335-3013.