Shoebox project provides outreach to children worldwide

Children worldwide who are affected by war, poverty, disease and disaster receive aid through Operation Christmas Child, a mission project of Samaritan's Purse. In the Solomon Islands, local Christians took shoebox gifts up into the mountains where there had been bitter fighting between ethnic groups. Everywhere they went, people were moved to tears by their act of compassion. One older man, an amputee, said, "Tell the people who sent these boxes that this is the most wonderful thing to happen to our nation. You have restored love to the nation."

Anyone can participate in this outreach by bringing a gift-filled shoe box to the Spencerport United Methodist Church, 32 Amity Street, Saturdays from 4:30 until 6 p.m. or Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon. Boxes will sent on November 23.

Directions are: find an empty shoebox; decide whether the gift will be for a boy or girl and select an age category: 2-4, 5-9, 10-14; fill your shoebox with small gifts (toys, school supplies, candy, flashlights with batteries, raincoats, socks, baseball caps, hygiene items, and similar items). Do not include the following: used items, war-related toys (such as guns or knives), perishable food items, liquids of any kind, medicines of any kind, or breakable items (such as mirrors, china dolls or snow globes). On top of the items in the box, place an envelope with $5 or more to help cover shipping and other costs. (Checks made out to Samaritan's Purse are recommended). Put a rubber band around the box and lid. Deliver the box to the Spencerport United Methodist Church, 32 Amity Street.

Since 1993 Operation Christmas Child has delivered shoeboxes to 24 million children in over 115 countries across the globe. They are delivered by helicopter, ship, plane, truck, dugout canoe, donkey, and even camel. Visit www.samaritanspurse.org for more information about filling a shoebox.