Published: October 31, 2008 12:16 pm      

Stonewall church coordinates Operation Christmas Child

STONEWALL — Operation Christmas Child touched the lives of 7.6 million needy children in 110 countries in 2007. This was because gift-filled shoe boxes were packed and delivered to boys and girls who have little.

These gifts opened the door for presenting the Good News of Jesus Christ through children's literature, personal witnessing and evangelistic programs.

Churches, schools, businesses and other groups participated in this project of Samaritan's Purse filling shoe boxes with toys, hard candy, school supplies, hygiene items, and other small gifts.

Sponsors suggest the following gift items:

School supplies: pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books.

Toys: small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), and Slinkys.

Hygiene items: toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb and washcloth.

Other: hard candy and lollipops (double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries.)

Items that should not be included are war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers and aerosol cans.

The person giving the shoe box should determine if the gift will be for a boy or a girl and the child's age category (2-4, 5-9, or 10-14). Each box should have a label attached to the top giving the age category. Labels may be obtained through First Baptist Church of Stonewall or Babette Rossen, local coordinator for the event. She can be reached at 580-265-4634. Labels may also be downloaded from www.samaritanspurse.org.

Donations of $7 per box will help defray cost of shipping and other project costs.

Rubber bands should be placed around each closed shoe box before it is dropped off at the local collection center.

National collection week for 2008 runs Monday, Nov. 17-Nov. 24.

Local drop-off location is First Baptist Church, 330 S. Harrison, Stonewall. Coordinator for the event is Babette Rossen. For more information, phone her at 580-265-4634.

This drop-off site will be transporting donated shoe boxes to a larger collection center Nov. 24.