Fort Worth-area churches seek holiday gifts for Latin American kids

Posted Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009 Comments   (0) Print Share Share Reprints

Topics: Latin America

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By DIANE SMITH

dianesmith@star-telegram.com

FORT WORTH — The holiday giving season has started early as shoe boxes are being filled with gifts for needy children in other countries.

As part of Operation Christmas Child, several area churches are serving as collection points for hundreds of gift-filled shoe boxes for youngsters in Central and South America. The nationwide project takes place through the religious organization Samaritan’s Purse, which has delivered the boxes since 1993 to more than 130 countries.

"It’s a small way to meet physical needs," said Jody Kennedy, Operation Christmas Child drop-off site coordinator.

Families, schools and churches typically fill the boxes with items such as toiletries, shoes, socks, underwear, toys and goodies.

The goal is to collect 40,000 boxes in this area, Kennedy said.

Last year, the Fort Worth area contributed 36,462.

Kennedy said the effort grows each year, signaling community awareness of the project and a willingness to volunteer.

"It’s an opportunity for every family, regardless of their faith, to get involved in helping children around the world," he said.

Susan O’Heren, a member of Hulen Street Baptist Church in Fort Worth, has participated in the project for several years with her three children. The work is a strong lesson in giving.

"I want them to understand what it feels like to do something for somebody else," O’Heren said.

How to help
Organizers are collecting gift-filled shoe boxes from families, youngsters, churches, schools and civic groups. Operation Christmas Child is a project of international Christian relief and evangelism through Samaritan’s Purse, which has delivered more than 69 million shoe boxes to needy children in 130 countries since 1993.

There are several collection sites and times:

Hulen Street Baptist Church 7100 S. Hulen St., Fort Worth

817-292-9787

Nov. 16-20: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Nov. 21-22: noon-6 p.m.

Nov. 23: 9 a.m.-noon

Normandale Baptist Church 2001 Chapel Creek Blvd., Fort Worth

817-246-2180

Nov. 16-20: 6-8 p.m.

Nov. 21: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Nov. 22: noon-6 p.m.

Nov. 23: 8-10 a.m.

Lighthouse Fellowship Church 7200 Robertson Road, Fort Worth

817-237-2758

Nov. 16-18: 5-7 p.m.

Nov. 19-20: 3-7 p.m.

Nov. 21: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 22: 1-4 p.m.

Nov. 23: 9-11:30 a.m.

First Baptist Church of Hurst 1801 Norwood Drive, Hurst

817-282-3628

Nov. 16-21: noon-6 p.m.

Nov. 22: 2-8 p.m.

Nov. 23: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

For more information about Operation Christmas Child, call 817-595-2230 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org.

DIANE SMITH, 817-390-7675

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