ELKINS — Area residents with shoe box donations for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child can begin dropping off their donations today at several different locations in Randolph and surrounding counties.

Collection week will run through Nov. 25 as organizers prepare to gather shoe boxes that will be distributed to needy children in more than 100 countries around the world. Last year alone, more than 11,202 boxes were collected in Randolph, Tucker, Barbour, Upshur and Pocahontas counties.  

“We have five counties and nine drop-off locations in those counties,” said Samaritan’s Purse area coordinator Patricia Parsons “We have one new drop-off location this year in Montrose and all of our locations will have extra shoe boxes for anyone wanting to pick one up and take home and fill up.”

The boxes can be filled with a variety of items including hygiene products, toys, games, clothes, shoes, and a stuffed animal that the children can hold and hug. The organization also asks that one “Wow” item be placed in the box. The “Wow” item can be anything from a soccer ball with a pump, to an action figure. 

Those making shoe box donations are asked to choose whether the recipient will be a boy or girl and in the age groups of 2 to 4 years-old, 5 to 9 years-old, or 10 to 14 years-old. This will be the 28th year that Samaritan’s Purse International has presented Operation Christmas Child. 

“We are hoping to do 13,000 boxes in the area this year,” said Parsons. “The shoe boxes go all over the world, we don’t know where they are going, but those who send a box can follow it online to see where it ends up.”

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. When the gifts are delivered, a representative from Samaritan’s Purse goes into the villages and communities and teaches the people there about Jesus. 

A shoe box donation can also be made online where the organization will personalize a gift from the donor along with a letter and photo. To donate online or for more information about Operation Christmas Child, visit samaritanspurse.org or call 304-940-9561.

Collection locations in Randolph County include: Elkins First Baptist Church (M-F, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Sat-Sun, 10 a.m. to noon – Mon, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.); Tygarts Valley Ministries/Beverely (M-F, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Sat-Sun, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Mon, 10 a.m. – noon); Montrose Community Building (M-Su, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Mon, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.); Harrison Community Church/Mabie (M-Sun, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Mon, 10 a.m to noon) and Bowden Family Worship Center (Mon, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Tu-Thur, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Fri, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Sat, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Sun, 9

In Barbour County, boxes will be collected at the Southern Baptist Church/Philippi (M-T, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Wed, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Th-Fr, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Sat, 10 a.m. to noon and 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Sun, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Mon, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.).

Boxes will be collected in two locations in Buckhannon, the First Baptist Church (M-W, 9 a.m. to noon – Thur, 9 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Fr, 9 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Sat, noon to 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Mon, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. to noon) and the Wayside Southern Baptist Church (M-Fr, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Sat, 10 a.m. to noon – Sun, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Mon, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.).

Shoe boxes can be dropped off at the Marlinton Presbyterian Church (M-Fr, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Sat, 10 a.m. to noon – Sun, Noon to 2 p.m. – Mon, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.).