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Annual ‘Shoebox’ Effort Sets Local Collection Dates
shoebox drive

The River Christian Community Church in Oakdale will once again be the collection point for the local Operation Christmas Child effort.

National Collection Week is scheduled from Monday, Nov. 16 through Monday, Nov. 23 with different hours available for drop-off of the shoeboxes. The operation, through Samaritan’s Purse, provides small gifts, toiletries, and more for youngsters in over 150 countries. You can pick the age and gender of the child you wish to provide a shoebox for; suggestions for items to include are available online at the Operation Christmas Child website. The shoeboxes can be picked up at the church, 1351 E. G St., Oakdale, so you can pack them and bring them back to the church during the upcoming collection week.

In this area, in addition to Oakdale, there are collection sites in Escalon, Modesto, Manteca, Ceres, Patterson, Tracy, Waterford, Stockton, Copperopolis and Turlock.

The River Christian Community Church will be open for drop off of shoeboxes on Monday, Nov. 16 and Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 17 and Thursday, Nov. 19 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 20, 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 21, 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 22, 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; and Monday, Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Many people, in addition to packing the shoeboxes full of small gifts, provide the $9 needed to cover the cost of shipping. The River has been the center of the local collection effort for years, and organizers are hoping for another year of strong support from residents.

The shoeboxes leave the local area and head to southern California for shipping out from there around the world.

For more information, visit www.samaritanspurses.org/operation-Christmas-child.