The Local Weekly The heart and soul of our communities with news and information about the Sunshine Coast
Collections for an annual shipment of toys and school supplies to needy children overseas are underway on the Sunshine Coast.
Operation Christmas Child — run by the Samaritan’s Purse organization – collects toys and school supplies in shoeboxes. Last year 942 boxes were shipped from the Sunshine Coast, and this year organizers are hoping to send 1,300.
“The reason I believe we can do this is that in 2008 we shipped 1,290 from here. So if you pass the word around to people you know, together we will reach this goal,” local co-ordinator Martha Schroth said in a statement.
“This is a simple way to make a huge difference in the life of a child who receives it. For many of the children who receive these gifts, this shoe box will be the first gift they have ever received.”
The idea is to fill the shoebox with hygiene items, school supplies, toys and a picture or a letter from you.
You can pick up a shoebox from Calvary Baptist Church in Gibsons, Christian Life Assembly in Gibsons, Bethel Baptist in Sechelt, Crossroads Community Church in Sechelt, Gibsons Building Supplies in either Gibsons or Sechelt, or the IGA in Gibsons. Or you can use a shoebox-sized Rubbermaid container.
The shoeboxes should be returned to the above locations, or to the home of Ms. Schroth at 1073 Grandview Rd. in Gibsons. The boxes have to be returned during the week of November 10 for shipment to Calgary, where they are sealed and shipped overseas. For more information call Ms. Schroth at 604-886-8545, or go to samaritanspurse.ca. Submitted
