Christmas might be the last thing on our minds, with three months still to go, but Operation Christmas Child volunteers are already in the festive spirit.
The 2011 Operation Christmas Child campaign is now underway in the Elk Valley, and volunteers are asking for people to start collecting gifts of all kinds, to be
sent and hand delivered by Operation Christmas Child Shoebox volunteers, to needy children living in desperate situations, in developing poor countries of the world.
All you need to do is fill a shoebox with small gifts for a boy or girl between the ages of two and 14 years. The age of the child is your choice.
You can pick-up a free decorated shoebox from participating businesses, schools and churches in the Elk Valley.
Inside each empty shoebox are instructions and ideas for gift items you may wish to send to a child in need.
Some people like to select and decorate a shoebox they find around their home or they can use a plastic container about the same size. Others like to fill a small backpack with gifts.
You have until November 15 to fill your shoebox and return to the nearest drop-off center. Operation Christmas Child, organized by Samaritan’s Purse and community volunteers is the worlds largest Christmas Project and is a fun and easy way that someone of any age can be involved.
Many children who receive a shoebox from Operation Christmas Child are being given the first gift they have ever received. Last year over 650,000 shoeboxes were collected in Canada. Our goal this year in the East Kootenay region is 6,000.
Here in the Elk Valley you can pick-up and drop-off your gift shoebox at
• Extra Foods in Fernie.
• The A&W Restaurant in Sparwood
• East Kootenay Credit Union in Elkford
• At participating schools and churches