A project that began last winter came together perfectly Thursday night when a group of CCB Community Bank employees packed 100 shoeboxes for the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child.

Barbara Pilotte said the group of bankers began raising money and collecting items for the boxes early in the year.

First, they bought T-shirts promoting the international organization, which collects shoeboxes—filled with school supplies, hygiene items, fun toys and notes of encouragement—and delivers them to children in need around the world to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way.

The boxes are delivered to children around the world who participate in The Greatest Journey, a discipleship effort.

Pilotte said the group paid $3 per week toward the project for the privilege of wearing jeans and a T-shirt to work on Fridays. That funds collected were used to purchase coloring books, school supplies, small toys, hygiene items, T-shirts, socks, flip-flops, and candy.

Pilotte said the stories of children who receive the boxes are inspiring.

“There was a little boy who received a dress in his box,” she said. “It turned out what he had wished for was a shirt for his sister.”

Another child received only one of the shoes intended in his box. It was OK . He only had one foot.

“I told our group not to worry about the color or the towy or the size,” she said. “God will put it in the right child’s hand.”

Last year, Pilotte worked with a small group to pack 12 boxes, and wanted to exceed that this year. CCB is providing the shipping costs for the boxes, which are due the week of Nov. 14-21.

Local drop-off locations are:

• Hopewell Baptist Church, 6592 Brooklyn Road. Collection times are 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Nov. 14-18; 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Sat., Nov. 19; 12:30 until 2:30 p.m. on Sun., Nov. 20; and 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. on Mon., Nov. 21.
• Westview Baptist Church, 1404 N. Main St., Opp. Collection times vary daily.