This Sunday, Nov 1, the children’s program will be launching Operation Christmas Child, a program which provides shoeboxes of simple gifts to children in desperate need overseas. There will be shoeboxes available this Sunday for anyone to take home and fill with items for children in need in South/Central America and West Africa.

For more information on this program please visit www.samaritanspurse.ca, a Christian international relief organization. The turnaround time for this project is short. We are asking that boxes be returned to the church by Nov 15, so boxes can be delivered to the collection centre during that week. Alternatively, if you wish to bring items to the church, the children will be packaging items in boxes on Sunday Nov 8.

If packing a shoebox, please label whether it intended for a boy or girl, and with the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14.

A variety of the following items is suggested:

• School supplies: e.g. pencils, pens, pencil crayons, notepads, picture books
• Toys and other gifts: e.g. stuffed animals, small musical instruments, hair clips, toy jewelry, t-shirts, socks, and candy (loose, individually wrapped , hard candy in a sealable bag).
• Hygiene items: please place soap in a sealable bag.

A personal note and/or photo can be included in the shoebox, if you wish.

It is asked that you do not include: toothpaste, food, chewy/crumbly/soft candy, gum, used items, decks of playing cards, liquids or items that could leak, melt, freeze or break, or items that could scare or harm a child.

In addition to the items, an optional donation is suggested, in order to cover project costs (including shipping). $7 is a suggested amount and donations can be included in an envelope in the box (cash or cheque) and can also be made online.