A bottle drive is being held this weekend in support of Operation Christmas Child.
Operation Christmas Child is the annual shoebox campaign put on by the group Samaritan’s Purse – a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world in areas where people are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine – according to their website.
The annual Christmas shoebox campaign kicks off in October where individuals, families, churches, business, sports teams, and community groups are invited to pack the boxes with items that could include: toy cars, yo-yos, jump ropes, balls, toys that light up or make sounds with some extra batteries; school supplies like pens, pencils, sharpeners, crayons, markers, notebooks, paper, calculators, colouring books, picture books; non-liquid hygiene items like toothbrushes, bars of soap, combs, washcloths; accessories like T-shirts, socks, hats, sunglasses, hair clips, jewelry, watches, flashlights; crafts like hair bows, finger puppets, friendship bracelets; or a personal note and photo of yourself, your family, or your group.
Last year the communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows packed 4,642 boxes that were sent to children in Ukraine, Philippines, Central America, and West Africa.
The bottle drive will be taking place from 9-2 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, at Ridge Church, in the east parking lot, at 222 Street and Lougheed Highway.
READ MORE: Bottle drive coming up for annual Christmas shoebox campaign
ALSO: Once a child in a refugee camp, now a promoter of Operation Christmas Child
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