PUNXSUTAWNEY – Operation Christmas Child’s West Central PA Area Team is holding a local project leader workshop as part of the ministry’s Project Leader Weekend in September.
Project leaders are encouraged to attend a local workshop to build relationships, share ideas and become better equipped to lead and grow the OCC project for their church or group.
Locally, the West Central PA Area Team will hold an in-person workshop, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 10, at New Beginnings Church (Assembly of God), 2785 Walston Rd., Punxsutawney.
“Join us for a time of fellowship and learning with project leaders from all over Clearfield and Jefferson counties,” expresses Shelly Rhoades, West Central PA area coordinator.
The workshop is open to everyone from project leaders who are just starting out to those who are more seasoned but enjoy exchanging ideas with others.
Rhoades encourages project leaders to bring a friend along with them to help grow the local shoebox collection effort and network of volunteers.
For more information or questions, individuals may contact Rhoades via e-mail at shell.rhoades@yahoo.com or call/text at 805-469-8245.
About Operation Christmas Child
Across the United States, Operation Christmas Child – the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind – collected more than 9.1 million shoebox gifts in 2021.
Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2021, the ministry is now sending more than 10.5 million shoebox gifts to children world-wide.
Each gift-filled shoebox—packed with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items—is a tangible expression of God’s love, and it is often the first gift these children have ever received.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered over 198 million shoeboxes to children in over 170 countries and territories.
Many children who receive shoebox gifts will also enroll in Operation Christmas Child’s 12-lesson discipleship program, The Greatest Journey.
Children learn from trained, local volunteers what it means to follow Jesus Christ, as well as to share their faith with friends and family.
Since 2009, more than 30.9 million children who have received a shoebox gift have participated in The Greatest Journey. Every child who graduates is given a New Testament in their own language.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham.
Samaritan’s Purse currently works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty and famine.
