Local people help with shoe box gifts

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan's Purse, an international relief organization headed by Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has distributed more than 18 million shoe box gifts to children in 112 countries who suffer from war, poverty, famine, and natural disaster.

All over the world, millions of kids, families, schools, churches, scout troops, and other organizations will fill shoe boxes with personal gifts, school supplies, candy, necessity items, photos, and notes of encouragement. For many children who receive a box, it will be the only Christmas present they have ever received.

How you can help:

• Find an empty shoe box.
• Decide if you want to fill it for a girl or boy, and in which category: age 2-4, age 5-9, or age 10-14.
• Shop for items to fill the box: small toys, comb and brush, toothpaste and toothbrush, soap, crayons, coloring books, pens, flashlight and batteries, dolls and stuffed animals. (Only hard candy is allowed; and please - no war-related toys, no liquids, and nothing breakable or perishable.)

You may include a note to the child or a photo of you and your family.

You can wrap the box (lid should be wrapped separately). Wrapping is not required.

To help cover shipping and other costs, place $5 in an envelope on top of the box, then place a rubber band around your box and lid.

The deadline at East Palmyra Christian School (597.4400) is November 8.

Or, stop at the Fairville Fire Department, Nov. 22 and 23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more info, call Betty at 331.1946.

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