STATE — You may have said, “It’s only late summer… uhm… early fall! I’ll think about Christmas later!” But as you should know- later and Christmas come very quickly. It’s time to prepare now!

On September 10, there will be a Countdown Event in Portland for Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts, an outreach ministry of Samaritan’s Purse.

In 2021, more than 10,500,000 generously stuffed shoeboxes were collected for global distribution last December, and throughout 2022. With National Collection Week drawing around again, November 14-21, now is the time to get excited to bless children and their families around the world. The Maine South-West OCC Volunteer Team (serving Northern Oxford County down through Cumberland and York Counties) invites you to come to hear how you, your family, your church or organization- perhaps even your town- can be part of this special form of generosity.

Hopefully, you’ve filled a shoebox (or maybe a lot of shoe boxes), and wondered if you are doing it right. Well, a terrible way to do it is to decide not to do it at all. But there is right, and then there is ‘right’! Come find the ‘right’ way, and the best items, to pack your shoeboxes.

At the mini-OCC Expo on-site, there’ll be many years of experience available, in the form of experienced volunteers; a select few free and low-priced gifts to include in shoeboxes; craft ideas to go home with, to make and pack; easy, illustrated literature for reference; lots of pre-printed OCC Shoeboxes… Even prize drawings for pre-registered guests!

All you “Packing Party” planners can get help, to find effective ways to get your circle of would-be packers pumped up and ready to stuff loads of shoe boxes. You may even get inspired enough to boost doubters into fully committed donors. Extra exciting will be the special guest speaker.

Samaritan’s Purse has been in Ukraine since the very first week of hostilities, providing humanitarian aid, OCC Shoeboxes to lift children’s spirits, and presenting the hope and Good News of Jesus Christ. John Solovei, who is a member of the Chaplain Rapid Response Team for the Billy Graham Evangelism Association was right there, sleeping in a bomb shelter and ministering in the field hospital. John Solovei is newly returned from Ukraine, where he served at the field hospitals.

In addition to reporting on his time and efforts, John will be helping us better understand how the local Operation Christmas Child churches, pastors and volunteers, most Ukrainian nationals, provided a foundation for all the Billy Graham and Samaritan’s Purse response teams to be rapidly integrated into the civilian support efforts.

The event is on September 10, from 10 a.m. through Noon. Light snacks will be available. This will be a fantastic opportunity for you to see, almost first-hand, what Operation Christmas Child can do for 1 child; 1 family; 1 household; 1 complete community; and maybe even a whole country.

New donors, seasoned Project Leaders, or just curious: plan now to be at the Port City Stroudwater Baptist Church, 1729 Congress Street, Portland, Maine. See what other tidbits (or “full meal”) of information you can gather. Come early for inspirational videos; stay after the event to visit with other interested OCC enthusiasts. Maybe explore Greater Portland searching out “WOW” gifts to thrill a special child.

For more information and/or to RSVP: call or email Kathleen McInerny- 207-318-7525; kathleenmmcinerny@gmail.com. She may even be able to let you know about a closer event on the same day.

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