Tehachapi News

World’s largest Christmas project

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Tehachapi, Calif., Oct. 28—Christmas is arriving early all over Tehachapi, as a local church prepares to serve as a drop-off point for Operation Christmas Child. Soon, with the help of Tehachapi volunteers, the sites will be brimming with festively wrapped shoe boxes full of gifts.

Through Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project, Tehachapi residents are packing shoe box gifts for children in more than 100 countries suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty. From Tehachapi, the shoe box gifts will be sorted and sent using whatever means necessary—sea containers, trucks, trains, airplanes, boats, camels, even dog sleds—to reach suffering children around the world.

“Through this project, anyone can be a part of giving love and hope in a shoe box,” said Lori Gohr, Operation Christmas Child drop-off coordinator. “Those who help at the Tehachapi drop-off location find it fun to watch as filled shoe boxes stack up that have been donated by our generous community.”

Operation Christmas Child uses tracking technology that allows donors to “follow your box” to the destination country where it will be hand-delivered to a child in need. To register shoe box gifts and find out what country they are delivered to, use the EZ Give donation form found at www.samaritanspurse.org.

Local collection site:

Country Oaks Baptist Church, 20915 Schout Road, Mon–Fri: 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun: 1 p.m.–4 p.m., Mon and Nov. 23, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (800) 383-1287