The Indiana County Samaritan’s Purse operation packed a lot of shoe boxes over the holiday season that will be sent to children all over the world.
In 2021, volunteers for the program packed a total of 4,412 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Each box is filled with small toys, school supplies and hygiene items, which are then sent to parts of the world where children might not be able to get those items, and in many cases, those shoe boxes may be the first gift that the child ever receives.
(Shelly Rhoades, West Central PA area coordinator, and Karla Sunderlin, Mid-Atlantic North regional area coordinator, with shoebox number 15,001 collected Nov. 21 during National Collection Week. Photo provided by Samaritan’s Purse)
Three churches in Indiana County were drop off points for the program. After the boxes were packed, people were able to drop them off at Hilltop Baptist Church locations in Indiana and Blairsville and at the Purchase Line United Methodist Church. In a statement, Operation Christmas Child Mid-Atlantic North regional area director Karla Sunderlin said she was overwhelmed by the support, and added, “Indiana County clearly has a heart for children and a strong desire to spread hope and joy throughout the world.”
Samaritan’s Purse is hoping for even more participation in 2022. More information can be obtained by calling 814-496-4456.
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