Operation Christmas Child is in full-swing and are in need of people to fill shoe boxes with small gifts for children in need around the world.
Any average sized cardboard or plastic shoe box can be packed for the cause with anything from school supplies, clothing items, small stuffed animals, dolls, toys, musical instruments, and hygiene items like toothbrushes or hair brushes – items that will fit into the small space.
Donors have also included a photo of themselves and a personal note.
This year dropoff takes place from 10-4 p.m. starting Monday, Nov. 13 and runs through until Sunday, Nov. 19, at Ridge Church, on the northwest corner of 222 Street and Lougheed Highway.
The project is part of Samaritan’s Purse, an evangelical Christian organization that, according to their website, has been providing spiritual and physical aid to people around the world since 1970.
Gift-filled shoe boxes will be delivered to needy children living in war, famine, or extreme poverty.
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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.
This past year, the 200,000,000 shoe box was delivered to a young Ukrainian girl living in an orphanage and was delivered from an Ukrainian girl that lived in an orphanage years before her.
Boxes this year will be going to children in West Africa, Ukraine, the Philippines, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Costa Rica.
For more information, please contact Barb at 778-881-9794.
