Atlanta Residents Shop For Deals To Give Needy Children Basic School Supplies

Atlanta, GA– Backpacks, crayons, notebooks and pencils, back-to-school shopping has begun. While many are taking advantage of school supply savings, Atlanta residents are stocking up on school items to help children in need around the world.

Adults and children alike are gathering school supplies, children’s toys and hygiene items to once again take part in Operation Christmas Child. In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the international non-profit will seek to collect 9.8 million gift-filled shoeboxes worldwide for less-fortunate children, many of whom have never before received a gift.

This is a very special time of year for local Midtown resident Stephanie Dopson, an Operation Christmas Child volunteer. Dopson states, “Don’t forget to pick up extra supplies for your OCC shoeboxes. Some children do not have the school supplies to attend school, so those extra pens, pencils, and notebooks will make a big difference in the lives of the children that receive these boxes. Tax free weekend is August 1-2 and a great time to pick up these extra supplies!”

A project of Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child allows individuals to fill shoeboxes with items such as clothing, pencils, crayons, paper, toys and hygiene items for the child who will receive the box. Through these simple gifts, more than 100 million shoeboxes have been delivered to more than 100 countries around the globe with a message of hope through Jesus Christ.

Dopson shares, “As a professor, I can’t imagine my students not having supplies as part of their learning. School supplies are a particularly important part of the boxes I pack because I want the children overseas to have the opportunity to go to school.”

The collecting of items to prepare the gift-filled shoeboxes will lead up to national collection week Nov. 17-24 when shoeboxes will be gathered at local drop-off locations before beginning their journey that will end in the arms of a child who can experience Christmas for the first time.

This year Church of the Apostles in Buckhead and First Baptist Church Atlanta will all serve as community drop-off locations. There are also 18 additional drop-off locations in various locations outside I-285.

To find out more about how to take part and learn how you can track what countries your shoeboxes were sent to, visit samaritanspurse.org.