How you can give back through Operation Christmas Child - 14 News, WFIE, Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, Evansville families, businesses, schools and churches are putting their gratitude in action and celebrating their blessings by giving back.

Through Operation Christmas Child, locals are joining tens of thousands of people across the U.S. to fill empty shoe boxes with toys, school supplies and necessity items for impoverished children around the world.

In 2012, Operation Christmas Child expects to reach a milestone- collecting and delivering shoe boxes to more than 100 million children since the project began in 1993.

Evansville-area residents hope to contribute over 21,000 shoe box gifts to this year's global collection goal of 9 million gift-filled shoe boxes in order to help surpass the 100 million milestone.

Anyone can drop off a packed shoe box at the Evansville-area collection sites. Then, using whatever means necessary—trucks, trains, boats, bikes and even elephants—the shoe box gifts will be hand-delivered to hurting children in 100 countries around the world.

Indiana Tri-State collection sites:

Catalyst Church
3232 Claremont Avenue
Evansville, IN  47712

Tues - Nov 13: 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Wed - Nov 14: 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Thur - Nov 15: 8 a.m. - 10 a.m., 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Fri - Nov 16: 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Sat - Nov 17: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m., 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Sun - Nov 18: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m., 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Mon: 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

First Baptist Church Family Life Center
320 Cherry Street
Evansville, IN  47713

Tues - Nov 13: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wed - Nov 14: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Thur - Nov 15: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Fri - Nov 16: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Sat - Nov 17: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sun - Nov 18: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Mon - Nov 19: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Baker Chapel
3495 E State Route 62
Boonville, IN  47601

Tues - Nov 13: 4 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Wed - Nov 14: 4 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Thur - Nov 15: 4 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Fri - Nov 16: 4 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Sat - Nov 17: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Sun - Nov 18: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Mon: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Shepherd of Paradise Lutheran Church
7811 Oak Grove Road
Newburgh, IN  47630

Tues - Nov 13: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m., 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Wed - Nov 14: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m., 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Thur - Nov 15: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m., 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Fri - Nov 16: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m., 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Sat - Nov 17: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Sun - Nov 18: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Mon - Nov 19: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Wadesville General Baptist Church Fellowship Center
7421 Joest Road
Wadesville, IN  47638

Tues - Nov 13: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Wed - Nov 14: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Thur - Nov 15: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Fri - Nov 16: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Sat - Nov 17: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Sun - Nov 18: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Mon: 8 a.m. - 11 a.m.

First United Methodist Church
601 Main Street #A
Mount Vernon, IN  47620

Tues - Nov 13: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Wed - Nov 14: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Thur - Nov 15: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Fri - Nov 16: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Sat - Nov 17: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Sun - Nov 18: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Mon: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ. 

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