School children donate 35 shoeboxes to help disadvantaged children

Cobb County families, churches and groups are not waiting until Thanksgiving Day to express gratitude.

In Operation Christmas Child, people around the Valley fill up shoe boxes with an array of supplies and gifts. Times are 11 a.m.to 1 p.m. through Thursday, 2-4 p.m. Friday.-Sun. and 10 a.m. Monday at the church at 1800 Highland Ave.

This year, the goal is to fill more than 400,000 shoe boxes in North Carolina, that will be delivered to children in more than 100 countries. From there, the parcels will be delivered “overseas, travelling by any means necessary – boat, plane, train and even elephant – until they reach the hands of children in need”.

“Operation Christmas Child” was a project adopted by Open Bible Christian Center, as both an opportunity to share their faith but also give the Christmas spirit to children around the world in over 130 countries. Go to samaritanspurse.org/occ to select toys and gift items, write a note of encouragement, and “pack” them in a shoebox.

It’s called the world’s largest Christmas project, and is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, founded by Reverend Franklin Graham.